1. Ravenstein’s Migration “Laws”

2. “Laws of Migration” E. G. Ravenstein was a German-English geographer
List of 11 “laws” for why people migrate were published between
Considered the implications of distance and different types of migrant
The laws can be organized into three groups: the reasons why migrants move, the distance they typically move, and the characteristics of migrants

3. Law #1
The majority of migrants move only a short distance in any one migration.
Meaning - In his time period, technology did not allow for migrants to travel far.

4. Law #2 Migration proceeds step-by-step.
Meaning - Migrants had to take multiple steps to migrate to the area they desired.

5. Law #3 Each current of migration produces a counter current.
Meaning - For every wave of migration, another wave is produced from the first wave.

6. Law #4
Females are more migratory than males within the country of their birth, but males more frequently venture beyond that country boundary.
Meaning - Women are more likely to migrate in the same country there already live
in, but men are more likely to
emigrate outside of the country.

7. Law #5
Most migrants are adults; families rarely migrate out of their country of birth.
Meaning - It is hard for families with small children to emigrate far outside of their country.

8. Law #6
Migrants moving long distances generally go by preference to the great centers of commerce or industry.
Meaning - Migrants that travel far want to make most of their trip by going to well developed industrial/commercial/urban areas.

9. Law #7
The natives of towns are less migratory than those of rural areas.
Meaning - People living in towns/communities are less migratory because they already live in a community with a commercial market, jobs and services.

10. Law #8 Large towns grow more by migration than birth rate.
Meaning - Large communities/urban areas grow more because of migration and not because of natural rate of increase.

11. Law #9
Migration increases as industries and commerce develop and transport improves.
Meaning - It is easier for people to migrate with better transportation and more money as the economy develops.

12. Law #10
The major direction of migration is from agricultural to industrial or commercial centers.
Meaning - Most migrants are moving from rural farm areas to more developed cities/urban areas with industry and a bigger market.

13. Law #11 The major cause of migration is economic reasons.
Meaning - The biggest reason people migrate is because of economic instability or wanting to get to a more economic opportunities.

14. MODERN EXCEPTIONS TO THE RULES…
Currently, more women are migrating to the United States from Mexico than males due to women entering the workforce and job opportunities in the U.S. (55 % female immigrants).
ALSO, many countries now make it easier for wives to join their husbands THUS more women migrating out of country.
REFUGEES – because of civil wars/violence in many modern countries, more FAMILIES are migrating due to necessity – not ease or availability of money.