Migration Chapter 3

What is Migration?

Migration Migration – A change in residence that is intended to be permanent. Little Haiti, Miami, Florida

Movement/mobility Cyclic Movement / circulation – movement away from home for a short period. –Commuting –Seasonal movement –Nomadism Periodic Movement – movement away from home for a longer period. –Migrant labor –Transhumance –Military service

Flow of migration involves two- way connections Immigration—migration to a location Emigration—migration from a location Net migration—difference between immigrants and emigrants –If number is positive, (more coming in than going out) country has net in-migration –If the number is negative, country has net-out migration

Choose one type of cyclic or periodic movement and then think of a specific example of how the movement changes both the home and the destination. How do these places change as a result of this cyclic or periodic movement?

Key question: Why People Migrate? Reasons for migrating –Push and pull factors Economic Cultural Environmental – Intervening obstacles Distance of migration –Internal migration –International migration Characteristics of migrants –Gender –Family status

Ravenstein’s laws 19 th century outline of 11 “laws of migration” written by E. G. Ravenstein. It’s the basis for contemporary geographic migration study Can be organized into three groups: –Reasons why migrants move –The distance they typically move –And the characteristics of migrants

Reasons for migrating Forced Migration – Human migration flows in which the movers have no choice but to relocate. Voluntary Migration – Human migration flows in which the movers respond to perceived opportunity, not force. Push factor—induces people to move out Pull factor—induces people to move in

Economic Push and Pull Factors Most common reason for migration Often when a place has few job opportunities, people will be enticed to move to a place with more. Pay can be a reason, also.

Economic Opportunities Islands of Development – Places within a region or country where foreign investment, jobs, and infrastructure are concentrated.

Cultural push and pull factors Forced migration such as slavery Boundaries drawn to separate ethnicities often result in emigration of those on the “wrong” side Armed Conflict and Civil War –(political) Refugee-people who have been forced to migrate because of fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a social group, or political opinion.

Refugees: Sources and destinations Fig. 3-1: Major source and destination areas of both international and internal refugees.

Forced Migration – the Atlantic Slave Trade

Environmental Push and Pull Factors Pull factors—seaside, mountains, warmer climates Dry desert climate attracts people with respiratory problems—ironically they altered the environment –Mulberry tree, Olive tree, Bermuda grass Push factors—adverse physical conditions –Floodplain-area subject to flooding

Intervening Obstacles An environmental or cultural obstacle that hinders migration Historically, mountains or oceans Passports or visas can constitute intervening obstacles

Distance of Migration Most migrants relocate a short distance and remain with in the same country Long-distance migrants to other countries head for major centers of economic activity

Internal Migration - Permanent movement within a single country’s borders

Interregional migration is movement from one region of a country to another Intraregional migration is movement within a region

International Migration – Permanent movement across country borders

Kinds of Voluntary Migration Step Migration – When a migrant follows a path of a series of stages, or steps toward a final destination. * intervening opportunity –at one of the steps along the path, pull factors encourage the migrant to settle there. Chain Migration – When a migrant communicates to family and friends at home, encouraging further migration along the same path, along kinship links.

Migration Transition Wilbur Zelinsky identified changes in society comparable to Demographic transition International migration primarily occurs in stage 2; interregional migration is also important Internal migration is more important in stages 3 &4

Characteristics of Migrants Ravenstein said most long-distance immigrants are male –In the US this has changed and about half are women –This reflects changing role of women in Mexican society Most migrants are adults rather than families with children

Economic Conditions – Migrants will often risk their lives in hopes of economic opportunities that will enable them to send money home (remittances) to their family members who remain behind.