1. Chapter 3: Migration Key Issue #1
Why Do People Migrate?
Chapter 3: Migration Key Issue #1

2. Reasons for Migrating Push vs. Pull Factors Economic Factors
Push factors – forces people to leave an area
Pull factors – entices people to come to an area
Economic Factors
Most people migrate for economic reasons
Some combination of lack of jobs and perceived opportunity elsewhere
European immigrants to the US & Canada
Cultural Factors - especially a push factor:
Forced international migration: slavery & political instability two main reasons
Refugees – forced to leave their homes & cannot return because of persecution
Ex. East Berlin vs. West Berlin

3. Reasons for Migrating Environmental Factors Obstacles
Pull = attractive regions: worm, nature settings, water, etc.
1/3 of elderly retirees choose FL
Push = harsh regions – water (too little or floodplains)
Obstacles
Intervening obstacles – environmental or cultural factor that causes difficulty migrating
Ex. Dust Bowl – 1930’s US or Atlantic Ocean in 18th & 19th Centuries for Europeans

4. Distance Migration
Distance-decay: farther away less likely to migrate there
Internal migration – within the same country
Cultural similarities make this far easier and more likely
Interregional – from one region to another
From rural to urban or (more recently) from rural to urban
Intraregional – within a region
From urban to suburban

5. Distance Migration
International migration – from one country to another
Voluntary – choosing to leave for economic reasons
Forced – pushed to leave because of cultural factors
Migration transition (Zelinsky) – based on demographic transition
Stage 1 migration – season migration for food
Stage 2 migration – international & interregional (looking for economic opportunity)
Stages 3 & 4 – immigration destination and mostly intraregional migration (cities to suburbs)

6. Global Migration Patterns
Figure 3-5

7. Characteristics of Migrants
Gender of Migrants
Historically men migrated greater distances for jobs
More recently (late 1900’s), women are the larger migrant population
Family Status of Migrants
Young adults are the most likely to immigrate to US
Immigrant children are on the rise
Likely because of the rising number of women immigrants