IGCSE Migration and GCSE Migration

Specification:

1.1 Population dynamics (in the specification the migration section of the course falls under
population)
Candidates should be able to:
• Describe and suggest reasons for population migrations. Reference should be made to internal
movements such as rural-urban migration as well as to international migrations both voluntary and
involuntary.

Migration: The movement from one location to another location.

There are many different types of migration. The most commonly referred to are:

Internal Migration: Migration within a country e.g. Santa Ana to San Salvador or Birmingham to
London.

Rural-urban migration: This is a type of internal migration. It is the movement of people from rural
areas (the countryside) to urban areas (towns and cities). In the settlements topic we look at the
causes, problems and solutions of and to rural-urban migration in Rio de Janeiro. If you want to read
more go to the settlements page: IGCSE Settlements and GCSE Settlements.

In addition to rural-urban migration we also looked at the processes of counterurbanisation and

reurbanisation in MEDCs (both forms of internal migration). Again details of these can be found on
the settlements page: IGCSE Settlements and GCSE Settlements.

International Migration: Migration between countries e.g. El Salvador to US.

Temporary Migration: Migration for a limited period, this might only be for a few weeks or even
several years.

Permanent Migration: Migration with the intention of staying forever.

Forced Migration: When people are forced to migrate, often because their life is in danger.

Voluntary Migration: When people freely choose to migrate e.g. for better weather or better
universities.
Economic Migration: Migration for work e.g. better salary or promotion

Seasonal Migration: Migration just for a particular season e.g. the ski season or the harvesting
season

Commuting: Movement from home to workplace and vice versa.

Commuting is biggest problem - BBC article

Different types of migration can also be used together, for example Mr Greenfield was a
international temporary voluntary migrant when he migrated to Vietnam, the UAE and El salvador.

Examples of forced and voluntary migration:

FORCED MIGRATION: When people have to move VOLUNTARY MIGRATION: When people chose
usually because their life might be in danger. to move, usually for economic benefit.

Natural disaster (volcano, earthquake, flood, famine

etc.) New job or better pay

War Retirement

Political persecution University/school

Religious or ethnic persecution Healthcare

Redevelopment or resettlement e.g. Three Gorges Better weather

Dam

Emigrant: A person who leaves a country to migrate to another.

Immigrant: A migrant arriving in a new country.

Migration Balance: The difference between emigrants and immigrants. If a country has more
emigrants than immigrants that it is experiencing net migration loss. If a country has more
immigrants than emigrants then it is experiencing net migration gain.

People will normally migrate because of a combination of push and pull factors.

Push Factor: Things that are driving you from the location that you live e.g. crime and pollution

Pull Factor: Things that are attracting you to a new location e.g. better job and nice weather.
The Lee's Model above show that as well as there being push factors from where you live there are
also pull factors that keep you there (represented by + in model). It also says that as well as pull
factors that attract you to a new location, there are also push factors not making you want to move
there (represented by - in the diagram).

Push Factors from Source (origin) CountryPull Factors from Source (origin) Country

No job

Low salary Friends and family

Pollution and congestion House

Bad weather Know the culture

Crime Understand the language

Poor education and healthcare Understand how country works

Poor housing
Pull Factors of Destination Country Push Factors from Destination Country

Better job Cost of housing

Better salary Racial tension

Better schools and hospitals Language barriers

Peaceful and safe Different culture

Friends and family already living their No friends and family

Intervening obstacles: These are problems that a migrant may face on his journey. They are
represented on the Lee's Model by the wiggly line in between country of origin and destination
country. Intervening obstacles may include:

Shortage of money

Language barriers

Passport or visa issues

Bad weather

Transport delays

Problems with housing

The charity Amnesty International has made four short documentaries highlighting the problems
faced by Central Americans migrating to the US through Mexico. The documentaries are called the
Invisibles. The problems in Mexico may include:

Kidnap

Rape

Robbery

Death

Torture

PART 1: Seaworld PART 2: Six out of Ten

PART 3: What RemainsPART 4: Goal

Mexico denies El Salvador's claim of migrant abductions - BBC article

UN calls for investigation to migrant abductions in Mexico - BBC article

More than 11,000 migrants abducted in Mexico - BBC article

American Illegals in Mexico - BBC article

Impacts of Migration

The process of migration can have positive and negative impacts on both the source country and the
receiving country. Below is a summary of some of those impacts.

Advantages Disadvantages

Reduced unemployment. El Salvador's is currently

about 10%, but in reality it is probably much
higher. There is also a lot of underemployment.
Often skilled and educated
Reduced pressure on schools and hospitals. It is migrants leave 'Brain Drain'
estimated that there are 2 million migrants living in
The dependency ratio increases
the US from El Salvador.
as the economically active leave
Remittances sent by family and friends living
A dependency on remittances
abroad. Remittances go straight into the hands of
develops
Source Country the people, not the government. In 2010 it was
(losing country)estimated that El Salvador received $2.5 billion in There maybe shortage of
remittances, shared between 22.5% of families. workers, especially during
harvests
Improved relations with foreign countries e.g. El
Salvador and US, in 2011 Barack Obama visited El Family separation
Salvador
Gangs have returned back to El
Migrants may return home with new skills and Salvador that were formed in the
knowledge of new technology US e.g. MS and M18.

Reduced birth and fertility rate and people in

reproductive age range leave

Possible racial tension. US

Source of manual workers who are prepared to
citizens will often blame Central
work dirty low paid jobs e.g. farming, construction
Destination Americans for taking their jobs.
and cleaning.
Country Inflation caused by increase
(receiving Also source of skilled workers who are added to
demand
country) skilled workforce 'Brain Gain' e.g. teachers, nurses
and lawyers (baseball players!) Pressure on schools and
hospitals. In parts of California
New cultures e.g. food and dance, Pupasas are sold
over half of people speak
 in the US
Improved links with source countries, possible new
markets e.g. El Salvador buys US products and
franchises e.g. Burger King and Starbucks.
Spanish, this can cause problems
for schools, hospitals, etc.
Possible unemployment
Pressure on housing, electricity,
water, etc.

Increased congestion and

pollution

Gangs were created by

Salvadorian migrants e.g. MS,
M18

Remittances: Money that is sent home to friends and family by migrants living in a different location,
often overseas.

Remittances top world aid

Downturn hits Filipino Remittances

Central America (including Mexico) to US Migration

The US and Mexico share a land border of roughly 2000km. Because of a series of push and pull
factors, migrants from Mexico and Central America (El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala) try and
make the journey across the border. It is estimated that over 1 million migrants each year attempt to
cross. Many make it, but others are also caught, in 1995 about 850,000 were caught and deported.

PUSH FACTORS FROM MEXICO PULL FACTORS TO US

Poor medical facilities - 1800 per doctor Excellent medical facilities - 400 per doctor

Low paid jobs - (GNP = $3,750) Well paid jobs - GNP = $24,750)

Adult literacy rates 55% - poor education Adult literacy rates 99% - good education prospects
prospects
Life expectancy 76 yrs
Life expectancy 72 yrs
Low crime rates
40% Unemployed
Many jobs available for low paid workers such as
42,000 violent drugs deaths since 2006 Mexicans

Imapacts on US (positive and negative)

Illegal migration costs the USA millions of dollars for border patrols and prisons

Mexicans are seen as a drain on the USA economy

Migrant workers keep wages low which affects Americans

They cause problems in cities due cultural and racial issues

Mexican migrants benefit the US economy by working for low wages

Mexican culture has enriched the US border states with food, language and music

The incidents of TB has been increasing greatly due to the increased migration

Impacts on Mexico (positive and negative)

The Mexican countryside has a shortage of economically active people

Many men emigrate leaving a majority of women who have trouble finding marriage partners

Young people tend to migrate leaving the old and the very young

Legal and illegal immigrants together send some $6 billion a year back to Mexico

Certain villages such as Santa Ines have lost 2/3 of its inhabitants

Push and pull factors and impacts are from: SLN - US Mexico Migration

Refugees and IDPs

Refugees: A person who has been forced to leave their home and their country. This might be
because of a natural disaster, war, religious or political persecution.

Persecution: When someone is attacked for what they believe in e.g. their religion or political belief.

Internally displaced person (IDP): When someone has been forced to leave their home but not their
country.

Asylum Seekers: Someone who is trying to get refuge (residency) in a foreign country because their
life is in danger in their home country. This is usually because of their political or religious beliefs.

Asylum Seekers drown off Australia

Reasons for Problems faced by Problems faced by receiving Solutions to refugee problem
becoming a refugee refugees country

Cost of providing food and

No housing water

Shortage of food Cost of providing education for

and water children and medical care for End of problem in source
everyone country
War e.g. Iraq No job or no
money Possible spread of disease to The return of migrants to
Natural disaster e.g. native population their home (1st choice)
Indian Ocean No clothes or
tsunami limited clothes Increased pollution and The return of migrants to
congestion ares or countries near their
Famine and/or Poor medical care home (2nd choice)
drought Possible racial tension
Disease Migrants settled in a foreign
Political persecution Poor sanitation Language problems of dealing country a long way from
e.g. Syria with refugees their home (3rd choice)
Safety concerns Increased unemployment
Religious or ethnic e.g. war, robbery,
persecution rape. Possible inflation because of The above three choices are
rising demand the three preferred solutions
Language barriers of the UNHCR.
Food shortages
No education for
children Shortages of water, electricity,
etc.

Iraqi Refugees and IDPs

Iraq has seen a flow of

refugees from its borders over
the last 100 years. However,
since the American led
invasion of 2003, the number
of refugees leaving Iraq and
also the number of IDPs within
Iraq has increased rapidly. It is
estimated that since 2003,
about 2.2 million Iraqi's have
left the country and a further
2.5million have fled internally.

Most refugees have escaped

the ongoing fighting between
coalition troops and remnants
of Saddam Hussein's
government, but others are
escaping terrorist attacks (Al
Qaeda has infiltrated Iraq) and
political, ethnic and religious
persecution.

The majority of refugees have

moved to neighbouring
countries (Syria and Jordan),
where there are similarities in
language and religion and they
are easily accessible by land.

Warning of Iraq Refugee Crisis

- BBC article

UN warns of Iraq refugee

disaster - BBC article