(A) What is rural – urban migration ? Is the migration of people from rural to urban areas Occurs in both developed and developing countries In developed countries, such flow of population began in the early 19th century, but has slowed down nowadays. In developing countries, such flow started in the early 20th century, and is getting faster as time goes by. Next

Push factors in the rural areas Pull factors in the urban areas (B) What are the causes of rural-urban migration ? Push factors in the rural areas Pull factors in the urban areas Next

Push factors in the rural areas Overpopulation - the man-land ratio is very high Few job opportunities Low living standard - low income, malnutrition Poor social services and facilities - transport, education, medical service, recreation etc. Poverty - the strongest factor Next Back

Pull factors in the urban areas Many job opportunities High living standard - high income, good nutrition Good social facilities and services - transport, education, medical service, recreation etc. Better jobs - the most important factor Back

(C) What are the problems caused by rural-urban migration ? Rapid population growth High unemployment Conflicts between local people and migrants Shortage of facilities and services Shortage of houses Example Favelas in Brazil Next

Rapid population growth Waves of immigrants from rural areas never stop. Very few people leave the city. Therefore, there is a big net gain in population. Most immigrants are young adults. They know little about birth control and family planning. The birth rate is very high. However, the death rate is very low. Therefore, there is a big natural increase in population. Next Back

There is a great increase in population. High unemployment There is a great increase in population. Economic development is slow. The increase of job is not fast enough. Many people are unemployed. High unemployment may lead to social problems. Next Back

Conflicts between local people and migrants They are different from each other in religion, tradition, custom outlook, educational level, language, race, etc. Therefore, misunderstandings arise. The local people do not want those outsiders: – to share their facilities and services; – to take away their jobs; – to bring along problems of congestion and pollution. Therefore, the local people do not like the immigrants. The immigrants thus feel being looked down on and ill-treated. Next Back

Shortage of facilities and services Urban population increases too fast. The city government has very limited resources. The number of facilities like electricity and water supply, and services like schools and hospitals only increases very slowly. The facilities and services cannot meet the needs of people. Life quality becomes poor. Next Back

Urban population increases too fast. Shortage of houses Urban population increases too fast. The increase of houses is too slow. The poor immigrants cannot afford good housing. The government is not fast enough to provide public housing. Cottage areas or shanty towns appear and spread. The living conditions are very poor there. Next Back

These favelas are built on the outskirts of the city. Favelas in Brazil In big cities in Brazil, 40% of the people live in shanty towns called ‘favelas’. These favelas are built on the outskirts of the city. Many basic facilities, like water and electricity supply, are absent in the favelas. Sewage and refuse are not properly collected and disposed of. Sanitary conditions are poor.Diseases spread easily. The people are very poor. Most of them are unemployed. Most children have no schooling. Back

Terms to learn: Migration - the flow of people from one place to another Rural-urban migration - people moving from the countryside into the city Push factors - the bad conditions that drive people out of their homes Pull factors - the good conditions that attract people to come to live in that area Migrants - people who come to live here from other places Squatter area - an area of unlawfully built huts and houses with poor facilities and services Shanty town - a squatter area where the poor live Favela - a shanty town on the outskirts of a Brazilian city End

Favelas in Brazil Back