MIGRATION

EXTENSIVE READING
INTERNAL MIGRATION
CAUSES OF MIGRATION
Broadly, there are five factors, which determine the push and pull conditions operating in the decision of
people to migrate to urban centers:
(i) Economic factors,
(ii) Demographic factors,
(iii) Social and cultural factors,
(iv) Geographical and physical factors and
(v) Political and institutional factors.
1. Economic Factors:
The poor economic conditions and lack of employment opportunities in villages are the main push
factors that drift the rural population to the urban areas. The rural areas, which are less developed, have
poor agricultural conditions and greater population pressure on land, push the surplus population to
urban centres.
On the contrary, better economic conditions, including employment opportunities available in urban
areas, operate as pull factors to attract rural people towards them. Rates of migration to different cities
are generally different depending upon the capacity of urban centres to absorb the incoming population
and provide them sufficient livelihood.
economic conditions
lack of employment opportunities
poor agricultural conditions
population pressure
employment opportunities

Outline
Rural areas: poor economic conditions  lack of employment opportunities, poor agricultural
conditions
Urban areas: better economic condition employment opportunities

2. Demographic Factors:
Differential population growth rates in different areas determine the migration trend. Generally, there is
higher fertility rate and natural population growth in rural areas. Due to better health services and
educational proliferation, population growth in urban centres is relatively lower. These conditions are
held responsible for rural-urban migration too.
fertility rate : tỷ suất sinh
educational proliferation : sự phát triển giáo dục

 The population of rural areas is much more than urban due to some reason(health services and
educational proliferation) rural-urban migration
3. Social and Cultural Factors:
Social and cultural factors also play a great role in rural-urban migration. In rural areas, traditional values
are much stronger and obligatory than in urban areas. Community is taken as superior to individual. On
the contrary, in urban areas, the people enjoy much greater freedom and have liberty of unrestrained
observance of modern values. The modern and western values are highly attractive to the youth.
Therefore, this class of population is more motivated to urban-ward migration.
traditional values giá trị văn hóa
Obligatory: bắt buộc
have liberty of unrestrained observance of modern values
Rural: traditional values and many rules make people to obey
Urban: better freedom and liberty, modern culture attractive to the youth.
4. Geographical and Physical Factors:
Physical conditions, distances, climate and natural environment and natural calamities like tempests,
floods, earthquakes and droughts have also been the determining factors in the nature of exodus of
rural population to urban centres.
 Natural calamities make people to move.
natural calamities thiên tai

nature of exodus bản chất của cuộc di cư

5. Political and Institutional Factors:

The state policies regarding rural-urban and inter-state migration have played a crucial role in the
transfer of population to the urban areas. If the state policy does not put restrictions on the free
movement of population, the shift would be normal and exigent to the existing conditions.

IMPACTS OF MIGRATION
Migration is becoming a very important subject for the life of cities. Many opportunities and
attraction of big cities pull large numbers of people to big cities. Migration can have positive as
well as negative effects on the life of the migrants.
Positive Impact
 Unemployment is reduced and people get better job opportunities.
 Migration helps in improving the quality of life of people.
 It helps to improve social life of people as they learn about new culture, customs, and
languages which helps to improve brotherhood among people.
 Migration of skilled workers leads to a greater economic growth of the region.
 Children get better opportunities for higher education.
 The population density is reduced and the birth rate decreases.
 Improve the quality of life
 Better education
 Broaden horizon(culture, custom..)
 Reduce population
 Negative Impact
 The loss of a person from rural areas, impact on the level of output and development of
rural areas.
  The influx of workers in urban areas increases competition for the job, houses, school
facilities etc.
 Having large population puts too much pressure on natural resources, amenities
and services.
 It is difficult for a villager to survive in urban areas because in urban areas there is
no natural environment and pure air. They have to pay for each and everything.
 Migration changes the population of a place, therefore, the distribution of the
population is uneven in India.
 Many migrants are completely illiterate and uneducated, therefore, they are not only
unfit for most jobs, but also lack basic knowledge and life skills.
 Poverty makes them unable to live a normal and healthy life.
 Children growing up in poverty have no access to proper nutrition, education or health.
 Migration increased the slum areas in cities which increase many problems such as
unhygienic conditions, crime, pollution etc.
 Sometimes migrants are exploited.
 Migration is one of the main causes of increasing nuclear family where children grow up
without a wider family circle.
 Put too much pressure on the environment, pollution
 Nothing is free. Have to pay for everthing
 Unfit with the normal life
 Lack of knowledge leads to unfitting with jobs

INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION
Why do people migrate?
Sometimes people have a choice about whether they move, but sometimes they are forced to
move. The reasons people leave a place are called the push factors. The reasons people are
attracted to new places to live are called the pull factors.

Advantages and disadvantages of migration

Migration can bring advantages and disadvantages to the country which is losing people and
also to the host country.
Country losing people

Advantages Disadvantages

Money sent home by People of working age move out reducing the size of the country's
migrants potential workforce

Decreases pressure on Gender imbalances are caused as it is typically men who seek to
jobs and resources find employment elsewhere. Women and children are left

Migrants may return with 'Brain drain' if many skilled workers leave
new skills

Host country

Advantages Disadvantages

Increasing cost of services such as health care

A richer and more diverse culture
and education

Helps to reduce any labour shortages Overcrowding

Migrants are more prepared to take on low Disagreements between different religions
paid, low skilled jobs and cultures

In addition, there are a number of obstacles that the migrant may need to overcome, including:
 unemployment in new country
 racism and cultural differences
 language barriers
 lack of opportunities

URBANIZATION
What is Urbanization?
Urbanization is a process whereby populations move from rural to urban areas, enabling cities and
towns to grow. It can also be termed as a progressive increase in the number of people living in towns
and cities. It is highly influenced by the notion that cities and towns have achieved better economic,
political, and social mileages compared to rural areas.
Accordingly, urbanization is very common in developing and developed worlds as more and more
people have the tendency of moving closer to towns and cities to acquire “privileged” social and
economic services as well as benefits. These include social and economic advantages such as better
education, health care, sanitation, housing, business opportunities, and transportation.

According to Wikipedia,
“Urbanization (or urbanisation) refers to the population shift from rural to urban areas, the decrease in
the proportion of people living in rural areas, and the ways in which societies adapt to this change. It is
predominantly the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger as more people
begin living and working in central areas.”
The majority of people move to cities and towns because they view rural areas as places with hardship
and backward/primitive lifestyles. Therefore, as populations move to more developed areas (towns and
cities) the immediate outcome is urbanization.
This normally contributes to the development of land for use in commercial properties, social and
economic support institutions, transportation, and residential buildings. Eventually, these activities raise
several urbanization issues.
Various Causes of Urbanization
1. Industrialization
Industrialization is a trend representing a shift from the old agricultural economics to a novel non-
agricultural economy, which creates a modernized society. Through the industrial revolution, more
people have been attracted to move from rural to urban areas on account of improved employment
opportunities.
The industrialization has increased employment opportunities by giving people the chance to work in
modern sectors in job categories that aids to stir economic developments.
2. Commercialization
Commerce and trade play a major role in urbanization. The distribution of goods and services and
commercial transactions in the modern era has developed modern marketing institutions and exchange
methods that have tremendously given rise to the growth of towns and cities.
Commercialization and trade come with the general perception that the towns and cities offer better
commercial opportunities and returns compared to the rural areas.
3. Social Benefits and Services
There are numerous social benefits attributed to life in cities and towns. Examples include better
educational facilities, better living standards, better sanitation and housing, better health care, better
recreation facilities, and better social life in general.
On this account, more and more people are prompted to migrate into cities and towns to obtain a wide
variety of social benefits and services which are unavailable in rural areas.
4. Employment Opportunities
In cities and towns, there are ample job opportunities that continually draw people from rural areas to
seek a better livelihood.
Therefore, the majority of people frequently migrate into urban areas to access well-paying jobs as
urban areas have countless employment opportunities in all developmental sectors such as public
health, education, transport, sports and recreation, industries, and business enterprises.
Services and industries generate and increase higher value-added jobs, and this leads to more
employment opportunities.
5. Modernization and Changes in the Mode of Living
Modernization plays a very important role in the process of urbanization. As urban areas become more
technology savvy together with highly sophisticated communication, infrastructure, medical facilities,
dressing code, enlightenment, liberalization, and other social amenities availability, people believe they
can lead a happy life in cities.
In urban areas, people also embrace changes in the modes of living namely residential habits, attitudes,
dressing, food, and beliefs. As a result, people migrate to cities and the cities grow by absorbing the
growing number of people day after day.
6. Rural-urban Transformation
As localities become more fruitful and prosperous due to the discovery of minerals, resource
exploitation, or agricultural activities, cities start emerging as the rural areas transform into urbanism.
The increase in productivity leads to economic growth and higher value-added employment
opportunities.
This brings about the need to develop better infrastructure, better education institutions, better health
facilities, better transportation networks, the establishment of banking institutions, better governance,
and better housing.
As this takes place, rural communities start to adopt the urban culture and ultimately become urban
centers that continue to grow as more people move to such locations in search of a better life.
Effects of Urbanization on Our Cities
1. Positive Effects of Urbanization
Urbanization yields several positive effects if it happens within the appropriate limits. Some of the
positive implications of urbanization, therefore, include the creation of employment opportunities,
technological and infrastructural advancements, improved transportation and communication, quality
educational and medical facilities, and improved standards of living. However, extensive urbanization
mostly results in adverse effects. Below listed points are a few of them.
2. Housing Problems
Urbanization attracts people to cities and towns which leads to a high population increase. With the
increase in the number of people living in urban centers, there is a continued scarcity of houses.
This is due to insufficient expansion space for housing and public utilities, poverty, unemployment, and
costly building materials which can only be afforded by a few individuals.
3. Overcrowding
Overcrowding is a situation whereby a huge number of people live in a small space. This form of
congestion in urban areas is consistent because of overpopulation and it is an aspect that increases day
by day as more people and immigrants move into cities and towns in search of a better life.
Most people from rural or undeveloped areas always have the urge of migrating into the city that
normally leads to congestion of people within a small area.
4. Unemployment
The problem of joblessness is highest in urban areas and it is even higher among educated people. It is
estimated that more than half of unemployed youths around the globe live in metropolitan cities.
And, as much as income in urban areas is high, the costs of living make the incomes seem horribly low.
The increasing relocation of people from rural or developing areas to urban areas is the leading cause of
urban unemployment.
5. Development of Slums
The cost of living in urban areas is very high. When this is combined with random and unexpected
growth as well as unemployment, there is the spread of unlawful resident settlements represented by
slums and squatters.
The growth of slums and squatters in urban areas is even further exacerbated by fast-paced
industrialization, lack of developed land for housing, a large influx of rural immigrants to the cities in
search of a better life, and the elevated prices of land beyond the reach of the urban poor.
6. Water and Sanitation Problems
Because of overpopulation and rapid population increase in most urban centers, it is common to find
there are inadequate sewage facilities.
Municipalities and local governments are faced with serious resource crisis in the management of
sewage facilities. As a result, sanitation becomes poor and sewages flow chaotically, and they are
drained into neighboring streams, rivers, lakes, or seas.
Eventually, communicable diseases such as typhoid, dysentery, plague, and diarrhea spread very fast
leading to suffering and even deaths. Overcrowding also highly contributes to water scarcity as supply
falls short of demand.
7. Poor Health and Spread of Diseases
The social, economic and living conditions in congested urban areas affects access and utilization of
public health care services. Slum areas in particular experience poor sanitation and insufficient water
supply which generally make slum populations susceptible to communicable diseases.
Environmental problems such as urban pollution also cause many health problems namely allergies,
asthma, infertility, food poisoning, cancer and even premature deaths.
8. Traffic Congestion
When more people move to towns and cities, one of the major challenges posed is in the transport
system. More people means an increased number of vehicles which leads to traffic congestion
and vehicular pollution.
Many people in urban areas drive to work and this creates a severe traffic problem, especially during
rush hours. Also as the cities grow in dimension, people will move to shop and access other social
needs/wants which often cause traffic congestion and blockage.
9. Urban Crime
Issues of lack of resources, overcrowding, unemployment, poverty, and lack of social services and
education habitually lead to many social problems including violence, drug abuse, and crime.
Most of the crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping, riots, assault, theft, robbery, and hijacking are
reported to be more prominent in the urban vicinities. Besides, poverty-related crimes are the highest in
fast-growing urban regions. These acts of urban crime normally upset the peace and tranquility of
cities/towns.

Solutions to Urbanization
1. Building Sustainable and Environmentally-friendly Cities
Governments should pass laws that plan and provide environmentally sound cities and smart growth
techniques, considering that people should not reside in unsafe and polluted areas.
The objective here is to build sustainable cities that embrace improved environmental conditions and
safe habitats for all urban populations.
Governments should also encourage sustainable use of urban resources and support an economy based
on the sustainable environments such as investment in green infrastructure, sustainable industries,
recycling and environmental campaigns, pollution management, renewable energy, green public
transportation, and water recycling and reclamation.
2. Provision of Essential Services
Urban stakeholders must ensure all populations within the urban areas have access to adequate
essential social services namely education, health, sanitation and clean water, technology, electricity,
and food.
The objective here is to provide and implement employment opportunities and wealth creation
activities so that people can earn a living to pay for the maintenance of the services.
Subsidies can also be availed by the government to lower the costs of basic healthcare, basic education,
energy, education, public transportation, communication systems and technology.
3. Creation of More Jobs
To lessen the negative effects of rapid urbanization while at the same time conserving natural
ecosystems, private investments should be encouraged so as to utilize natural resources and create
more job opportunities
Tourism promotion and the sustainable exploitation of natural resources can create more jobs for urban
populations. Subsidies and grants may as well be provided to foreign and private investment
in environmentally friendly development projects that encourage job creation.
4. Population Control
Key stakeholders in urban areas must provide campaigns and counseling for effective medical health
clinics and family planning to help reduce the high rates of population growth.
Medical health clinics oriented towards family planning options must be made accessible across the
entire urban area with the objective of controlling diseases and population growth.