Geography

• Migration


  The movement of people across an official boundary, either internationally or nationally, with the intention of creating a permanent place of residence
• Permanent


  A change of residence for more than 1 year
• Migration has shaped the world of today and has impacted economically, culturally, politically and environmentally
• Most people will go through several changes of residence during their lifetime
• Immigration


  The inward movement of people into a country
• Emigration


  The outward movement of people out of a country
• Types of migration


  • Voluntary
  • Involuntary or forced
  • Internal
  • Political - internally displaced, refugee and/or asylum seekers

  
• Push factor


  The reality of the current situation for the migrant; it is what makes the person consider moving from the place of origin

  
• Pull factor


  The perceived outcome; it is what they imagine the move will bring to the place of destination
• Push-pull factors


  • Social
  • Economic
  • Political
  • Environmental
• Barriers to migration


  • Personal barriers include emotional and financial factors
  • National barriers occur at a physical or political level
  • Immigration laws present the greatest legal barrier to migration
• Voluntary migration


  Involves the free choice of movement either internally or internationally, usually for economic reasons
• Involuntary or forced migration


  Where the migrant has no choice but to leave their place of origin, usually due to war, persecution or natural disasters
• The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates 89.3 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced at the end of 2021
• The biggest reason for forced migration is war and persecution
• Internally displaced people are forced migrants who do not leave their country
• According to the UN, approximately 3.6% of the world's population lives outside their country of birth
• The Covid-19 pandemic severely restricted migration, however, there are signs of a slow return to previous levels of migration
• The number of female migrants has increased, with women making up the majority of contract work and so adding to migration becoming temporary and circular in nature
• The majority of movement is between developing and developed countries, but there are also signs of increased movement between developing (low to middle-income) countries
• With developed countries reinforcing border controls in response to illegal immigration and security measures, there has been a rise in human trafficking and exploitation
• Internal migration is higher than international movement, in developing and developed countries
• Most internal movement in developing countries is from rural to urban regions and has resulted in the very rapid growth of urban areas
• China is seeing rapidly expanding urban/industrial areas across its country and this has fuelled the largest rural-to-urban migration in history, with more than 150 million people moving to meet the demand for factory workers
• Developed countries such as the USA, France, Germany and the UK experienced rural-to-urban migration since the late 18th century due to the Industrial Revolution and urbanisation
• Counter-urbanisation


  The process of people migrating from urban areas into rural regions
• Reasons for counter-urbanisation


  • Mobility and accessibility
  • Increased wealth
  • Agricultural decline
  • Green belt
  • Second homes and early retirement
• It is predicted that with the worsening of tropical storms, desert droughts and rise of sea levels, 200 million people will be displaced by 2050
• The World Bank (2012) noted that the overall economic gains from international migration for sending countries are positive
• Decline (mechanisation and merger of farms): more land becomes available for housing and agricultural workers leave the area
• Green belt: people need to go further out to get the rural life they are looking for
• Second homes and early retirement: have increased the movement of people from the city to the countryside
• Positive impacts of migration on destination country

  • More low-wage workers
  • Job fulfilment
  • Increased diversity
  • Cultural enrichment
  • Boost to local economy
• Negative impacts of migration on destination country

  • Job competition
  • Increased pressure on public services
  • Discrimination and racial tensions
  • Increased pressure on natural resources
  • Overcrowding
• Positive impacts of migration on origin country

  • Migrants may return with new skills
  • Reduction in unemployment
  • Less pressure on public services
  • More resources available
  • Remittances are a source of income and can boost local economy
• Negative impacts of migration on origin country

  • Tax increase due to depopulation
  • Reduction of workforce
  • Brain-drain effect - less of a skilled workforce
  • Ageing population with an outflow of young people
  • Depopulation in rural areas affecting agricultural output
• Positive impacts of migration on migrants

  • Better job on arrival
  • Escape from conflict
  • Better quality of life
  • A better education and job skills
  • A sense of integration/ hope
  • Wider choice of job opportunities
  • Support family in country of origin through remittances
• Negative impacts of migration on migrants

  • Running out of money
  • Language barriers and cultural assimilation
  • Exploitation
  • Passport, visa or immigration issues
  • Weather conditions - unsuitable clothing
  • Problems with housing or accommodation upon arrival
  • Illness - as there is often no available health care
• Remittances are seen as 'globalisation bottom up', as they can account for as much as 20% annual GDP
• Remittances help decrease poverty, create a multiplier effect and increase investment in an area, and soften the impact of a global recession