6.1 Types and patterns of migration
4 min read•july 31, 2024
Migration shapes societies worldwide, influencing demographics, economies, and cultures. From internal movements to international flows, migration patterns reflect complex push- and historical trends. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for grasping global population shifts.
Types of migration include internal vs. international and voluntary vs. forced movements. Patterns evolve over time, from colonial-era migrations to modern globalized flows. Factors like economic opportunities, social networks, and government policies play key roles in shaping migration trends.
Types of Migration
Internal vs. International Migration
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- Migration involves movement of people with intention to settle temporarily or permanently in new location
- occurs within country borders
- Includes rural-to-urban migration and inter-state relocation
- Example: Migration from rural Midwest to urban centers like Chicago
- crosses national borders
- Categorized as emigration (leaving country) and immigration (entering new country)
- Example: Mexican citizens moving to the United States for work
Voluntary vs. Forced Migration
- stems from individual choice
- Often driven by economic opportunities, education, or family reunification
- Example: International students pursuing degrees abroad
- involves involuntary movement
- Caused by conflict, persecution, natural disasters, or development projects
- Example: Syrian refugees fleeing civil war
Circular and Step Migration
- describes repetitive movement between origin and destination
- Often for seasonal work or cultural practices
- Example: Agricultural workers moving between Mexico and the US for harvest seasons
- involves series of shorter, incremental moves
- Progresses from place of origin to final destination
- Example: Rural farmer moving to small town, then to city, and finally to major metropolitan area
Patterns of Human Migration
Historical Migration Patterns
- Age of Exploration (15th-17th centuries) marked significant intercontinental migration
- Included colonization and forced migration of enslaved people
- Example: Spanish conquistadors establishing colonies in the Americas
- Industrial Revolution (18th-19th centuries) led to large-scale rural-to-urban migration
- Increased international labor migration
- Example: Irish immigrants moving to industrial cities in England
- Great Atlantic Migration (19th-early 20th centuries) saw massive movements from Europe to Americas
- Driven by economic opportunities and political factors
- Example: Italian and German immigrants settling in the United States
Post-World War II and Contemporary Patterns
- Post-World War II migration included guest worker programs and decolonization-related movements
- Increased South-to-North migration
- Example: Turkish guest workers in Germany
- Contemporary patterns characterized by diverse flows
- South-to-South migration, climate-induced displacement, and highly skilled migration
- Example: Filipino nurses migrating to Gulf countries
- Globalization and technology facilitate new forms of temporary and circular migration
- Example: Digital nomads working remotely while traveling internationally
- Regional migration systems shape contemporary patterns
- Intra-EU mobility and intra-African migration
- Example: Polish workers moving to the UK after EU expansion
Factors Influencing Migration
Push and Pull Factors
- encourage people to leave place of origin
- Economic hardship, political instability,
- Example: Lack of job opportunities in rural areas pushing people to cities
- Pull factors attract migrants to destination
- Job opportunities, higher wages, better quality of life
- Example: Tech industry in Silicon Valley attracting skilled workers globally
- impede migration
- Geographic distance, border controls, cultural and linguistic barriers
- Example: Strict visa requirements limiting international student mobility
Social and Policy Influences
- and facilitate migration
- Provide information, resources, and support to potential migrants
- Example: Established immigrant communities helping newcomers find housing and jobs
- Government policies significantly influence direction and volume of migration flows
- Immigration laws, visa regimes,
- Example: Points-based immigration systems in Canada and Australia
- Economic disparities between regions or countries drive migration
- Measured by wage differentials or GDP per capita
- Example: Income gap between Mexico and the US influencing migration flows
Drivers of Migration Patterns
Demographic and Economic Factors
- explains population dynamics influence on migration
- Affects sending and receiving countries over time
- Example: Aging populations in developed countries creating demand for immigrant workers
- impacts origin and destination demographics and economies
- Young adults more likely to migrate
- Example: of young professionals from developing to developed countries
- Economic development levels create migration corridors
- Affects skills composition of migrant flows
- Example: IT professionals from India migrating to tech hubs in the US
Environmental and Technological Influences
- and environmental degradation contribute to forced displacement
- Influence long-term migration trends in vulnerable regions
- Example: Sea level rise threatening low-lying island nations (Maldives, Tuvalu)
- processes drive rural-to-urban migration
- Shapes settlement patterns of international migrants
- Example: Rapid urbanization in China leading to massive internal migration
- Technological advancements facilitate migration
- Reduce costs and increase access to information about potential destinations
- Example: Social media platforms connecting migrants with job opportunities abroad
Key Terms to Review (23)
Age selectivity: Age selectivity refers to the tendency of certain age groups to migrate more than others, influencing the demographic composition of both sending and receiving populations. This concept highlights how migration patterns can vary significantly across different age cohorts, which in turn affects social structures, economic conditions, and cultural dynamics in various regions.
Bilateral Agreements: Bilateral agreements are treaties or arrangements made between two parties, often countries, to address specific issues like trade, migration, or cooperation. These agreements are significant in shaping the patterns of migration by establishing rules and frameworks that govern how people can move between nations, affecting immigration policies and rights for migrants.
Brain drain: Brain drain refers to the emigration of highly skilled or educated individuals from one country to another, often in search of better job opportunities, living conditions, or quality of life. This phenomenon can significantly impact both the sending and receiving countries, as the loss of talent can hinder economic growth and development in the home country while benefiting the host country.
Circular migration: Circular migration refers to the pattern of movement where individuals move back and forth between their home country and a host country, often for work or educational purposes. This type of migration is significant as it highlights the temporary nature of many migrants' movements, reflecting changing economic conditions and labor demands in both locations.
Climate change: Climate change refers to significant and lasting alterations in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth's climate system, largely driven by human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes. It connects deeply to how societies function, influence migration patterns, and affect mortality rates, impacting everything from the environment we live in to global policies aimed at sustainable development.
Demographic transition theory: Demographic transition theory is a model that describes the transformation of countries from having high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as part of economic and social development. This theory is crucial for understanding population dynamics over time, as it connects changes in birth and death rates to social progress, economic growth, and urbanization.
Environmental Degradation: Environmental degradation refers to the deterioration of the natural environment due to human activities, leading to the depletion of resources and loss of biodiversity. This can include deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, and climate change, all of which can significantly impact ecosystems and human populations. The consequences of environmental degradation often drive migration patterns as people seek safer and more sustainable living conditions.
Forced migration: Forced migration refers to the involuntary movement of people due to factors such as conflict, persecution, natural disasters, or economic hardship. This type of migration can lead to significant changes in demographic patterns and the social fabric of both the originating and receiving communities, often resulting in population displacement, humanitarian crises, and a need for policy interventions.
Immigration policy: Immigration policy refers to the laws and regulations that govern how individuals can enter, reside, and become citizens of a country. This policy shapes the flow of migrants, influencing various patterns of migration, such as voluntary versus forced migration, and plays a significant role in addressing demographic challenges faced by both developed and developing nations.
Internal migration: Internal migration refers to the movement of people within a country, often from one region or area to another. This type of migration can be driven by various factors such as economic opportunities, environmental conditions, or social networks, and can have significant impacts on population distribution and urbanization trends.
International migration: International migration refers to the movement of people across national borders for various reasons, including economic opportunities, educational pursuits, family reunification, or fleeing conflict and persecution. This phenomenon significantly impacts both the sending and receiving countries, shaping their demographics, economies, and social structures.
Intervening Obstacles: Intervening obstacles refer to factors that hinder or delay the migration process, affecting individuals' ability to move from one location to another. These obstacles can be physical, economic, social, or political and often impact the decision-making of potential migrants. Understanding these obstacles is crucial in analyzing migration patterns and behaviors, as they can shape the routes that migrants take and the timing of their movements.
Migration networks: Migration networks are the social structures formed by the relationships and connections among migrants, which facilitate the movement of people across borders. These networks play a crucial role in shaping migration patterns, influencing decisions about where to move, and providing support to new migrants, often through established ties with family and friends in destination areas. By understanding migration networks, we can better comprehend how social relationships impact migration decisions and the subsequent integration of migrants into new communities.
Neoclassical Theory: Neoclassical theory is an economic framework that explains migration patterns based on individual decision-making, where people move to maximize their utility or economic benefits. This theory posits that migration occurs when individuals weigh the costs and benefits of moving versus staying in their current location, often seeking better job opportunities or living conditions. It emphasizes the role of economic factors in migration decisions while acknowledging that social and environmental elements can also influence these choices.
Pull factors: Pull factors are the positive attributes or conditions that attract individuals to migrate to a particular location. These factors can include economic opportunities, political stability, quality of life, and social networks. Understanding pull factors helps to illustrate why people choose to leave their home countries for new destinations, which is essential when looking at types and patterns of migration, as well as the specific implications of rural-urban migration.
Push Factors: Push factors are conditions or circumstances that drive individuals to leave their current location in search of better opportunities elsewhere. These factors can stem from various issues, such as economic hardship, political instability, social unrest, or environmental challenges, and they play a critical role in influencing migration patterns. Understanding push factors helps to explain why people move and how these movements shape demographic trends and urban development.
Robert E. Lucas: Robert E. Lucas is an influential economist known for his contributions to macroeconomics and the theory of rational expectations. His work emphasizes the importance of individual expectations in economic decision-making and has shaped the understanding of how policies affect economic outcomes, particularly in the context of migration patterns and labor markets.
Social capital: Social capital refers to the networks, relationships, and norms that enable individuals and groups to work together effectively. It plays a crucial role in shaping community engagement, access to resources, and overall social cohesion, influencing various aspects of society including health outcomes, migration patterns, and mobility theories.
Step migration: Step migration is a process in which individuals move from one location to another in a series of smaller, progressive steps rather than making one large move. This type of migration often occurs in response to factors such as economic opportunities, family ties, or social networks, allowing migrants to gradually adapt to new environments while minimizing risks associated with long-distance relocation.
Urbanization: Urbanization refers to the process through which cities grow as more people move from rural areas to urban centers, often driven by economic opportunities and lifestyle changes. This movement impacts various demographic and social dynamics, influencing everything from population distribution to resource allocation.
Voluntary migration: Voluntary migration refers to the movement of individuals or groups from one place to another based on their own choice, often driven by factors such as economic opportunities, education, or quality of life. This type of migration stands in contrast to forced migration, where individuals are compelled to move due to adverse circumstances like conflict or natural disasters. Understanding voluntary migration helps in analyzing patterns of movement and the socio-economic implications for both the origin and destination areas.
Wilbur Zelinsky: Wilbur Zelinsky was a prominent American geographer known for his work on migration and the spatial patterns of human behavior. His theories provided insights into how cultural and economic factors shape migration trends, emphasizing the interplay between population movements and societal changes. Zelinsky's work connects to various aspects of migration, including its determinants, types, consequences, and the policies that govern urbanization and rural-urban shifts.
World Systems Theory: World Systems Theory is a sociological perspective that views the global economy as a complex system structured by inequalities, where nations are divided into core, semi-periphery, and periphery countries. This framework helps to understand migration patterns and movements of people as they are influenced by economic opportunities and disparities across different regions, linking closely to various types of migration, the impact of globalization on international migration, and the theories explaining human mobility.