Migration Study Notes

Migration Overview

  • Definition: Migration refers to the movement of people from one location to another.
  • Temporary Migration: Involves movement that occurs seasonally or daily.
  • Permanent Migration: Involves a change in residence, leading to long-term or permanent settling in a new location.

Key Terms

  • Immigration: The act of coming to live permanently in a foreign country.
  • Immigrant: A person who relocates to a different country for permanent residence (e.g., a Mexican immigrant in the USA).
  • Emigration: The act of leaving one's own country to settle permanently in another country.
  • Emigrant: A person who leaves their country to live in another (e.g., a Trinidadian emigrant moving to Britain).

Types of Migration

Internal Migration
  • Refers to the movement of people within a country.
  • Includes rural-urban migration and seasonal migration.
  • Does not alter the total population but redistributes population within the country.
Rural to Urban Migration
  • Commonly involves younger individuals seeking job opportunities and better amenities in urban areas.
  • Can cause:
    • Depopulation of rural regions
    • Rapid urban population growth.
  • Often leads to the formation of squatter settlements or shanty towns with poor living conditions.
  • Associated with increased crime rates due to rising unemployment among unskilled migrants.
Seasonal Migration
  • Typically related to agriculture, with people moving temporarily to areas for harvest work.
International Migration
  • Involves movement across international borders.
  • Can impact the total population of both sending and receiving countries.
  • Voluntary Migration: People move by choice.
  • Involuntary Migration: Movement due to force (e.g., political conflict, economic hardship).

Case Study: Guyana

Historical Migration Patterns
  • In the 19th century, migrants from Africa, India, and China moved to Guyana for work in sugar cane plantations.
  • Between 1834-1917, approximately 240,000 young Indian males emigrated to Guyana.
  • These immigrants now comprise about 50% of Guyana's current population.
Emigration Trends
  • Mid-20th century: Emigration began to surpass immigration, leading to negative net migration.
  • By the 1980s, emigration rates climbed to 10,000-30,000 annually.
Causes of Emigration from Guyana
  • Predominantly rural, 80% forested, leading to:
  • Limited job opportunities and social advancement.
  • High unemployment and underemployment rates.
  • Agriculture, making up over 50% of GDP, employs many residents, but job diversification is minimal.
Impact of Emigration on Guyana
  • Brain Drain: Loss of skilled workers is significant, with 70% of emigrants being qualified professionals (doctors, engineers, etc.).
  • Results in:
    • Economic stagnation due to lack of skilled labor.
    • Increased unemployment rates.
    • Decreased foreign direct investment due to economic decline.
Future Trends
  • Signs of economic recovery, particularly in agriculture and mining.
  • Potential for economic growth due to recent oil discoveries, indicating a possible ‘oil boom’.
  • Decrease in negative net migration rates, from -13.6 per 1,000 in 1990 to less than -8 per 1,000 in 2006.