Migration

Migration

1. Definitions

   • Internal migration - people moving from one region to another within the same country.
   • International migration - people moving from one country to another.
   • In-migration - people moving into a region.
   • Out-migration - people moving away from a region.
   • Rural-urban migration - people moving from the countryside into the cities.
   • Immigration - people moving into a country.
   • Emigration - people moving out of a country.
   • Economic migrant - people choosing to migrate often in order to improve their education, skills or in search of better job opportunities.
   • Forced migration - people must move in order to escape from conflict, persecution, natural disaster etc.
   • Voluntary migration - a person who has moved because they are in a search for a better quality of life.
   • Refugee - a person who is outside of their country of nationality and is unwilling to return because they have a fear of being persecuted (threat to life/freedom) for reasons of race, religion, nationality or political opinion.
   • Asylum seeker - someone who seeks protection from another country because they are afraid of returning to their own country.

2. Impacts of rural-urban migration for rural areas

   • Positive
     • Remittances - increases household incomes.
       • Money generated can be used fro food, clothing, investment in education, medicines, improvements in water/sanitation facilities, improvements in agriculture.
   • Negatives
     • Young men who migrate - loss of productive workforce.
       • Children may have to work so they cant attend school.
     • Families are separated which can have social impacts for children.

3. International migration

   • Development of home country
     • Positives
       • Decreased population pressure on public services and the economy.
       • Remittances sent home.
       • New opportunities for migrants in terms of improving education/skills.
       • Migrants returning home bring skills they learnt abroad.
       • Contributes to international understanding and reduce racism and xenophobia.
     • Negatives
       • Out-migration of most skilled - reducing skills capacity 'brain drain'.
       • Migrants may resist returning home with their skills due to better lifestyles.
       • Can weaken cultural traditions.
       • Break up of extended family and separation of parents and children.
       • Possible reduced quality of life for emigrants initially.
   • Development of recipient country
     • Positive
       • Enables continued development as migrants provide workers.
       • Original rural migrants provide cheap labour in the cities.
       • Can contribute to international understanding.
       • Many migrants are young and fertile - a growing population can slow down the egative effects of an aging population.
       • Solve problems related to skills shortages.
     • Negative
       • May have to pay for cost of social support (burden) - refugees.
       • Lack of integration may leads to conflict, racism etc.
       • Can put a downward pressure on wages/lead to unemployment.
       • Leakage effect through remittances.
       • Need to provide more housing and services.
       • Language barriers and their associated costs.

4. Barriers

   • High cost
   • Uncertainity
   • Lack of knowledge of country.