Unit Three: Migration Chapter 3

Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration See handout

Ravenstein Based upon Ravenstein’s theory of migration, his “laws” can be organized into three groups: the reasons why they move, the distance they typically move, and their characteristics.

“WHY DO PEOPLE MIGRATE?” REASONS FOR MIGRATING: economic different regions (small and large scale) have different economic structures, (primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, combination of different sectors) and thus attract people from all over (interregional, intraregional)

“WHY DO PEOPLE MIGRATE?” cultural forced international migration resulting slavery political instability resulting from cultural diversity (eg Israel, Sudan, …) refugees

“WHY DO PEOPLE MIGRATE?” environmental pulled towards physically attractive regions (Rocky Mountains, coast lines, …) pushed from hazardous regions (floodplains, hurricane regions, …)

INTERVENING OBSTACLES An environmental (water, mountains…) or cultural (government and politics) feature that hinders migration.

DISTANCE Distance-decay Principle: the farther away a place is located, the less likely people will migrate to it.

TYPES OF MIGRATION Internal Migration Interregional migration – movement from one region of a country to another (usually between rural and urban) Intraregional migration is movement within one region (usually within urban areas from older cities to newer suburbs)

TYPES OF MIGRATION International Migration Voluntary – economic improvement Forced – compelled by cultural factors

MIGRATION TRANSITION Changes in a society comparable with the demographic transition A change in the migration pattern in a society that results from the social and economic changes that also produce the demographic transition International migration usually occurs in stage 2 (resulting from technological changes) Internal migration usually occurs in stages 3 and 4. Usually from cities to surrounding suburbs. Societies in stage 3 and 4 are the destinations for international. Stage 1 are not likely to migrate

CHARACTERISITCS OF MIGRANTS Gender Historically, males By 1990s, in the US, ~ 55% of immigrants are female

CHARACTERISITCS OF MIGRANTS Historically young adults seeking work US – 40% immigrants age 25 – 39 compared to 23% of entire US population Increasing percentage of children (more children coming with mothers as more females immigrate)

Is Migration Permanent or Temporary? Historically, most migration was permanent because it involved long distance travel. Temporary migration is more common today. (Air travel is widespread and relatively inexpensive.) PERMANENT-------------- TEMPORARY OVER TIME BECOMES

PERMANENT Permanent migration may reverse and become temporary. Why? Over time, different opportunities may arise (job, family…) which encourages another migration to occur.

TEMPORARY Temporary migration can also reverse and become permanent. Why? Many countries require immigrants to fill jobs in a growing economy, but do not want permanent immigrants. Instead they admit GUEST WORKERS. However, guest workers can become permanent if they are there long enough and they establish a family, etc. TEMPORARY----------------- PERMANENT OVER TIME BECOMES

Legal vs. Illegal Migration Each country determines who will be accepted and rejected. The particular set of rules that a country chooses reflect that country’s economic and social needs. CANADA: focuses on attracting highly skilled and/or wealthy permanent immigrants GERMANY: accepts few permanent immigrants but allows guest workers to fill jobs in the manufacturing and service industries UAE: have guest worker programs for both low and high level jobs

Legal vs. Illegal Migration

Legal vs. Illegal Migration Two ways that illegal migration occurs: sneaking into the country by land or water when a person violates a country’s terms of legal entry (tourist visa…) In the US between 700 000 – 850 000 illegal people enter each year

Legal vs. Illegal Migration 50 000 Africans enter southern Europe 500 000 illegal migrants from eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union enter western Europe

MIGRATION ISSUES Brain Drain Receiving countries do very well from immigration. They are able to “cherry-pick” the kind of immigrants they want. Over 88% have a high school education.

MIGRATION ISSUES For the country losing the migrant this can have negative impacts – they lose their most talented people. Solutions to this problem: Have the receiving country “pay” in some form for each educated person (foreign aid to help that county) Skilled workers be admitted only temporarily forcing them to return home

MIGRATION ISSUES Remittances - Money sent by a migrant to family members living in the migrant’s homeland. Integration Smuggling illegal Need for replacement migration

The End 