Migration Theory and Factors in Geography

Migration, fertility and mortality are the basic fundamental elements determining population growth and demographic structure of a country. Migration may be international, intra-national, interregional, intra-urban, rural-to-urban, , and urban-to-rural.

Migration is permanent or semi-permanent change of residence of an individual or group of people over  a significant distance.  On the basis of distance, it may be long or short distance. On the basis of number, migration may be individual or mass; it may be politically sponsored or voluntary. On the basis of social organisation, migration may be that of family, community, clan, or individual. On the basis of causes, migration may be economic, social, cultural, religious or political. Migration may be stepwise or direct from the place of origin to the destination.

There can be various causes of migration such as over population, economic causes, Technology, Political causes, socio-religious causes, demographic causes and wars.

People migrate for a better economic and social life. There are two sets of factors that influence migration.

• The Push factors make the place of origin seem less attractive for reasons like unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics and socio-economic backwardness.
• The Pull factors make the place of destination seem more attractive than the place of origin for reasons like better job opportunities and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property and pleasant climate

Migration has a direct and indirect consequence on society, demography, economy, and environment. Some of the main consequences of migration are:

Reallocation of resources

Generally, people from the crowded and overpopulated areas emigrate to the areas of sparse population with better re-source base, which helps in maintaining a balance between population and physical resources.

Change in demographic characteristics

Migration brings tangible change in demographic characteristics of place of origin and place of destination. The absolute number of population, the density of population, age composition, and literacy rates are either favourably or adversely affected.

Change in sex ratio

The sex ratio at the place of destination drops as the male members have been added while the sex ratio at the place of origin increases.

Economic gains

There is more intensive and judicious utilisation of physical resources at the place of destination, leading to higher agricultural and industrial production. The migrants send money back to home to their families which brings prosperity to the place of origin of migration also.

Transformation of ethnic characteristics

The physical and marital contacts of people belonging to different ethnic groups may change  the biological characteristic of the migrants and that of the host population.

Transformation of cultural values

When large scale migration takes place, the cultural values of the people undergo radical transformation. The dietary habits of the people are also significantly transformed.