MigrationMigrationChapter 3

Push and Pull FactorsPush and Pull FactorsPush factors are things that push

people away from their current placePull factors are things that pull people

to new placesE.G. Ravenstein’s theory outlines 11

laws (rules) to geographic migration.The 11 laws can be divided into 3

main reasons for migration (Economic, Cultural, and Environmental)

Why People MigrateWhy People MigrateEconomic Cultural Environmental

•New job opportunities•Valuable natural resources•Economic attractiveness•Highest number of migrants

•Forced migration-slavery and political instability•Boundaries create forced international migration•Refugees•2 largest groups of refugees- Palestinians and Afghans•Freedom can be a pull factor (Fall of Communism)

•Physically attractive places•Pushed from hazardous places•Attractive environments like mountains, sea sides, warm climates•Health conditions•Pushed by adverse physical conditions•Too much water or too little water

Intervening ObstaclesIntervening ObstaclesIn the past, obstacles have been

transportation issuesOther physical obstacles like mountains

and water have hindered migrationToday’s migrants face obstacles not

from physical or transportation issues, but cannot move due to lack of passports or legal documentation.

All countries require some sort of legal documents to allow you into their country

Distance of Migration Distance of Migration Ravenstein’s TheoryRavenstein’s Theory

International Migration Internal Migration

•Permanent move to another country•Very traumatic, done for extreme conditions or reasons•Voluntary migration – chosen to migrate•Forced migration- forced to move due to fear and possible death•Wilbur Zelinsky compared migration patterns to the DTM and found similar data (see chart handout)•Stages of the DTM correspond with migration patterns

•Permanent move within same country•Less traumatic move, therefore more people migrate internally•Interregional migration is moving to another region within a country•Intraregional migration is moving within the same region within a country•Historically most moves have been rural to urban migration•But in recent years the trend has reversed to urban to environmentally attractive rural areas (Suburbs)

Characteristics of Characteristics of MigrantsMigrantsMostly maleAdultsTrend started to change in early

1990sIncreasingly more women and

children are migratingLess educatedMost are from rural areas in MexicoMost work in agriculture

Sources and Destinations of Sources and Destinations of RefugeesRefugees

Migration Patterns

U.S. Immigration PatternsU.S. Immigration Patterns1st era- Settlement of colonies and

slave trade◦400,000 were slaves

2nd era- Europeans migrating to U.S.◦40 million to U.S.

3rd era- Latin America and Asia◦7 million (Asia) 13 million (Latin

America)◦Immigration Reform and Control Act

Latin American and Asian Latin American and Asian EraEraCurrent wave of migrationChina, Philippines, India and

VietnamMexico, Dominican Republic, El

Salvador1986 Immigration Reform and

Control Act gave documentation to illegal immigrants that entered U.S.

Reason for migration remains the same: economic push/pull factors

Migration from Latin America to the Migration from Latin America to the U.S.U.S.

Fig. 3-6: Mexico has been the largest source of migrants to the U.S., but migrants have also come from numerous other Latin American nations.

Impact of Migration to U.S.Impact of Migration to U.S.Immigrants today are not entering

a growing country (frontier) but a highly settled region where there is job competition

Cultural backgrounds travel with immigrants which shape the country◦Christianity

Government and economic structure and colonial conflicts

Undocumented Undocumented ImmigrationImmigrationBCIS estimates that there are 7 million

illegalsEach year it grows by 350,000

◦Expired visas or border crossersIt is illegal to hire an illegal immigrantMost of the time immigrants are

deported back to Mexico if caught…no penalties

Texas, Florida, California and New York are the destinations of most migrants

U.S. States as Immigrant U.S. States as Immigrant DestinationsDestinations

Fig. 3-8: California is the destination of about 25% of all U.S. immigrants; another 25% go to New York and New Jersey. Other important destinations include Florida, Texas, and Illinois.

U.S. Quota LawsU.S. Quota LawsEstablished in the 1920’sSet limits on legal migrationChanged in 1965, 1978 to eventual

global quotas480,000 family (chain migration)

120,000 employment immigrationTypically only skilled workers are

granted visasBrain Drain in countries where they

emigrated from

Temporary and Time Temporary and Time Contract WorkersContract Workers

Temporary workers are called guest workers

Temporary workers typically are found in Europe/M.E. and they are from poorer countries like Africa, M.E. ,E. Europe and Asia

Guest workers have some rightsTime contract workers are used for a

fixed period of time then settle in new country once job is completed

Best example: Chinese building the U.S. railroads

Economic Migrant or Economic Migrant or Refugee?Refugee?Cuba, Haiti and VietnamMariel boatliftCubans were viewed as refugees

because Castro was an ally of the Soviet Union

Coup created refugees in HaitiCommunist North VietnamVery important to distinguish

status

Prejudice against migrantsPrejudice against migrantsEarly European immigrants faced

prejudiceCA voted to deny immigrants access

to public servicesKuwait expelled Palestinian guest

workersFiji wanted only Fijians to control

government and Indians to run business

Anti-immigration is attractive

Why do people migrate Why do people migrate within a country?within a country?

Interregional migration developed U.S. frontier

Population centers moved steadily west

Interior-1830◦Low land prices, canals, steam powered

boatsGreat Plains-1880

◦Farming improved, steel plows, well drilling

South- 1980◦Job opportunities, sunbelt

Migration between regions of a countryMigration between regions of a countryInterregional MigrationInterregional Migration

United States Other Countries

•Changing center of population•The center of population has moved west as our country became settled•Transportation helped the interior of the U.S. to be settled (think Gold Rush)•Agriculture technology helped the Great Plains become settled•Increase in job opportunities in the South caused the growth as well as the climate•African American migration

•Russia•Important to develop areas near raw materials•Kosomol policy was used to encourage young students to work•Brazil•Moved capital to Brasilia to promote interior development•Indonesia•Government program to encourage development of islands and to move people away from Java•Europe•Southern Italian moving to Northern Italy for jobs (Mezzogiorno)

Migration between Migration between countriescountriesRussia

◦ Needed internal migration to develop industry

◦KomsomolBrazil

◦Moved capital to Brasilia to promote movement

Indonesia◦Gives incentive to move to other islands

Europe◦Economic movement within country

India◦State of Assam

Migration within one regionMigration within one regionIntraregional MigrationIntraregional Migration

Rural-urban migration◦Most people live in cities today◦People moved to the city for jobs

Urban-suburban migration◦Current trend of intraregional migration◦Pulled by the lure of suburban lifestyle◦Better schools, less crime

Migration from metropolitan to nonmetropolitan regions◦Counterurbanization◦People wanted to live in the country◦ Increased transportation allows a city

worker to live in a rural area

Intraregional Migration in the U.S.Intraregional Migration in the U.S.

Fig. 3-14: Average annual migration among urban, suburban, and rural areas in the U.S. during the 1990s. The largest flow was from central cities to suburbs.