A2 – Migration: Causes, Streams and Impacts

Migration = the permanent change in place of residence for at least one year –
international when movement involves crossing an international border, internal
when migrant moves from one region to another within their country.

 Decision process involved is complex, unless migration is forced – need to

assess factors that promote/discourage the move = push + pull factors
 PUSH FACTORS = negative aspects of potential migrant’s current place of
residence – subjective and perception based
 PULL FACTORS = perceived attractions of new destination based on info
from a number of sources e.g. previous migrants, ad campaigns, believe
current deprivation will be removed

Economic Factors
 Lack of suitable jobs/low wages/lack of promotion = push factors (industrial)
 Farming restructuring and mechanisation in rural areas, move for work
 Eastern Europe migration to UK = economically
motivated. Poland part of EU in 2005, unemployment
rate as much as 40% in rural areas, 5% in UK.
 Brain drain of educated people from LEDCs to
MEDCs for better opportunities
 Job opportunities/higher wages attract in-migration,
2005 = 50,000 Polish migrants in UK to try and improve their economic
situation
 Urban Dev Corp set up by Conservative govt to try and encourage people back
to inner cities

Social Factors
 Desire to join family members who’ve already successfully moved
– men usually make initial decision to migrate + family join after
he’s established e.g. West Indian migration to UK in 1950s/1960s
 Students move to cities for tertiary education, initially temporary
move becomes permanent due to social ties formed, reluctant to
leave
 Ageing pop, inadequate medical/educational/recreational facilities for young
families, catalyses further out-migration

Cultural Factors
 Lack of religious/linguistic/cultural freedom promotes
migration e.g. Bosnian ethnic cleansing and war, Muslims
move away from Serbian areas
 British cities, areas where there’s substantial ethnic
minorities, white people move to suburbs
 For migrants the existence of clusters of people of similar
culture/religion act as a pull factor – leads to dev of
migration stream and creation of enclaves.
Environmental Factors
 Desertification e.g. Sahel region in Africa – move in search of farming land.
 Global warming predicted to increase sea level in densely pop low lying areas,
will promote considerable out migration
 UK, remote upland areas/offshore islands =
harsh environmental conditions – attracted to
move to more accessible locations

Barriers to Migration
 Potential migrant must overcome real/perceived obstacles before the move is
made – crucial elements in the decision making process
 Cost of moving important – transportation costs, house to sell, need
accommodation in new destination, need sufficient funds to sustain them until
a job is found
 Family and friendship ties need to be severed, new lifestyle, differences in
language and culture
 Laws regarding women’s dress code and place in society can be a major
obstacle in Muslim countries
 International migration, govt policies can encourage/discourage migrants –
some policies are selective (receiving country has control over number/type of
people allowed access)
 After the enlargement of the EU, the UK initially allowed large numbers of
Eastern European migrants to migrate into Britain, but recently no’s have been
reduced
 USA, migrants must have work permits (the green card) before being allowed
entry

Typology of Migration
Migration Streams – Migration usually involves people moving from a
common source region to a similar destination (migration stream – internal or
international!)
International – movement of people from Eastern Europe to the
UK.
Internal – movement of people from Highlands & Islands of
Scotland to SE Eng.
Migration streams occur when migrants have similar reasons for
leaving and their choice of destination is influenced by a number
of factors. They may choose their destination as its served by a
budget airline or migrants of former colonies may choose to move to their former
colonial ruler’s country e.g. West Indies to UK.

Economic migrant – People who move to another country

simply to obtain work and earn money. Frequently return home after
they’ve earned desired amount e.g. East European migrants in UK –
single men in cheap accommodation, working long hours below
skills capacity

Illegal migrants – Unable to fulfil legal requirements set down by chosen

destination, enter illegally. Travel undercover across
Europe and attempt to gain access to UK via ferries
concealed in the back of Lorries. Prepared to take low
paid work in unregulated places.
2000, 58 illegal Chinese immigrants
suffocated in lorry on their way to Dover.
 1999, 2500 illegal immigrants died attempting to gain access to Europe.
Some pay lots of £ to illegal gangs who smuggle them into country – when
entered, they may be exploited by gang masters, low wages, unsuitable conditions.

2004, 22 illegal immigrants died picking cockles in Morecambe Bay, tide bad!

Asylum Seekers – Come to a new country without

required legal documentation and ask permission to stay on the
basis that they will face torture of death if they return home.
Agreed list of countries that use torture. Some seeking entry for
economic reasons. Rigorous checks, held in holding centre
while application is reviewed. Home Office – 24000 asylum
apps made in 2007

Refugees – Defined by the UN as “a group of people

unable to live safely in their home country.” Have limited
choice on decision to leave due to natural disasters, volcanoes
or famines. Myanmar, people still in refugee camps after 2008
cyclone. Wars, ethnic cleansing or religious/political
discrimination cause displacement. Aug 2008, people living in
former Soviet Republic of Georgia forced to flee from war that broke out between
Russia and Georgia. UN – 10 million refugees and 13 million people displaced in
their own country.

Migration Characteristics
 Much migration work related – majority of migrants from EA age
groups. Home Office 2006, 183,000 Eastern Europeans aged 18-24 work in
UK
 Three main stages when an individual may decide to move
1 – entry into workplace, usually to a large city
2 – follows marriage and young family, close to schools/suburban area
3 – Retirement e.g. coastal towns in South England
 Migration often gender selective – LEDCs, males more likely to migrate
due to lower status of women, remain as wives and mothers. Once the male
migrant is established, usually his family will follow!
 MEDCs, distinction between males and females depends on the nature
of employment opportunities in the destination – certain types of occupation
attract male migrants e.g. manufacturing/mining. Service industries attract
both genders.
 New migrants locate in areas where their community is already
established to avail of services and places or worship, and socio-economic
reasons.
In Britain, inner city areas provide migrants with affordable housing and job
opportunities, social network with people of similar ethnic background
 Used to be that migrants escaping from poverty came to perform low paid
unskilled jobs but with increased mobility and greater opportunities, migrants
can be of any socio-economic status. ‘Brain drain’ – highly qualified people
e.g. doctors/scientists moving from LEDCs to Britain because of greater
opportunities/higher wages. Recent EU migrants are mostly skilled unskilled
 workers – 2004/2006, 95,865 immigrants as factory workers, 77,270 as other
(unskilled)

Implications of Migration
Has impacts on area of out migration and in migration. When substantial numbers of
people relocate there are often significant impacts on services, economic activity and
social stability.
Areas of in-migration Areas of out-migration
 Large influx of migrants puts
demands on education, health
and housing provision – takes time
to provide extra capacity, existing
services put under pressure
 New migrants eventually
establish services for their own
community e.g. Indian and Chinese
restaurants, Polish Shops, migrant
schools
 LEDCs, migrants find it difficult
to gain affordable housing in cities,
end up living in informal
settlements. Can happen in
MEDCs but live in overcrowded
conditions in poor quality housing.
Darfur in Sudan, refugees fled to
Chad – one of the world’s poorest
countries, can’t provide basic
services.
 If migrants can employment, can
add to economic advancement of
new country. UK, West Indian
migrants filled low wage menial
jobs – kept wage inflation low.
Spend money in new country and
pay tax, East European migrants
contribute £2.54 billion p/a to UK.
 Many send large amount of their
earnings back home, limited
consumer spending in new country.
Remittances lost to the host
nation. UK, Western Union
processes remittances. If there are
job shortages migrants may have
the advantage as they accept lower
wages, can cause resentment –
EDL. World Bank, globally over
$230 billion in remittances in
2005
 Migrants change communities if
they are segregated, locals can
move away. Problems in schools
with language difficulty, culture
not accepted. NI, petrol bombs.
 If migrants leave due to
overpopulation, pressure on services is
reduced. May be of short term as the
more people move away, service
provision usually deteriorates e.g.
primary schools.
 Leads to ageing population. Health
centres, offices, shops and public
transport can be affected
 Economic activity can enjoy short
term relief, eases demand for jobs but
area can lose qualified and skilled
workers – loss for home country that
may have invested in training/education
 As its lost able work force, may not
attract new industry
 Remittances find their way into
economy of home country – important
source of income in LEDCs and
sometimes migrants return after earning
sufficient amounts of money and
introduce new ideas – modernise home
country. Tourism visiting family and
friends is a potential money earner e.g.
American Tourists to Ireland
 Depopulation is a concern for
communities – once an area loses
people, services decline, can lead to
further out migration. Can lead to spiral
of neglect, ageing pop and inadequate
services.
 As a pop ages the rate of natural
increase falls – common in remote
rural areas where some islands are
totally depopulated. Scotland, pop of
Western Isles decreased by 10% from
1991-2001.