Migration is a key feature of our increasingly interconnected world.
It has
also become a flashpoint for debate in many countries, underscores the
importance of understanding the patterns of global migration and the
economic impact that is created when people move across the world’s
borders.
This chapter discusses in great detail the concept of migration, with special
focus on international migration. It highlights the areas of migration for
most of the migrants in the world. Expectedly, it provides a pattern of
migration and explains further the causes of such pattern.
Specific Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the students should be able
to:
1. Analyze the political, economic, cultural, and social factors underlying
the global movements of people.
2. Display first-hand knowledge of the experiences of OFWs.
TOPICS
Migration
Push-Pull Theory of Migration
Trend in Migration
MIGRATION
Migration pertains to the act or process of crossing the boundary of a
political or administrative unit for a certain minimum period (Boyle et. al.,
1998 as quoted by Dicolen, 2013).
It comes from the Latin word “migratio” which means physical movement
by people from one area to another, sometimes over long distances or in
large groups.
Migrant / Migrate- To move from one place to another, often for
work or better living conditions and can encompass both temporary and
permanent movements
Emigrant / Emigrate – to leave one’s country and to live
permanently in another country.
Immigrant / Imiggrate – to come to a new country to live
permanently.
Migrants may be permanent, long-term or short term according to the
length of stay in the place of destination.
It is permanent if the migrant does not return to his/her place of origin;
long-term if the usual stay extends to more than 12 months; and short-
term if it falls below 12 months.
CLASSIFICATION OF MIGRATION
Migration is generally classified into internal and international migration.
Internal migration refers to move from one area to another within one
country.
International migration, on the other hand, means people cross borders
of one country to another.
FACTORS UNDERLYING GLOBAL MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
Economic migration, whether permanent or seasonal, is a commonly cited
reason for migration. In general, it is believed that in economic migration,
people move from poorer developing areas into richer areas where wages
are higher and more jobs are available. But apart from economic factors,
there are political factors that cause people to from their home country to
another country. War, persecution, and the absence of political rights are
the predominant political factors in migration.
Social factors motivating migration grow from the human needs and
desires to achieve a better quality of life. Migrants often move to ensure
better opportunities for themselves or their family, like sending their child
to a better, safer school or finding a job that would not have only a
sufficient salary, but also important benefits and career growth prospects.
Cultural factors usually involve slavery, political instability, ethnic cleansing,
famine, and war. People who choose to flee or are forced to flee as a result
of these problems are often refugees. Cultural factors could include people
who want to live in democratic societies, gender equality, or educational or
religious opportunities.
PUSH-PULL THEORY
The most popular theory explaining the reasons of migration is one
propounded by Ravenstein (1889) known as the Push-Pull Theory.
This theory states that some people move because they are pushed out of
their former location (push factors), or because they have been pulled or
attracted to some places elsewhere (pull factors).
Examples of push factors are the scarcity of job opportunities, poor medical
care, poor housing, natural disasters, famine, loss of wealth, discrimination
and the like.
Pull factors on the other hand include better job opportunities, improved
living conditions, political or religious freedom, attractive climate, better
education and the like.
Ravenstein further opined that pull factors were more important than push
factors because in most instances, people move in order to improve
themselves in material respects, but they would rather endure the
conditions in their current residence unless attracted by the above-
mentioned pull factors.
TRENDS IN MIGRATION
Based on the statistics provided by the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), mobility of people is increasing over time, either internal
or international migration.
In 2015, there are about 272 million people living in a country other than
their country of birth.
In 2020, Europe and Asia each hosted around 87 million and 86 million
international migrants, respectively - comprising 61%of the total global
international migrant stock combined.
These regions were followed by North America, with almost 59 million
international migrants in 2020 or 21% of the global migrant stock, Africa
at 9%, Latin America and the Caribbean at 5%, and
Oceania at 3%.
COUNTRY OF DESTINATION OF INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS
The United States of America has been the main country of destination
for international migrants since 1970. Since then, the number of foreign-
born people residing in the country has more than quadrupled - from less
than 12 million in 1970, to close to 51 million in 2019.
Germany, the second top destination for migrants, has also observed an
increase over the years, from 8.9 million in 2000 to 16 million in 2020.
Some other top destination for migrants includes Saudi Arabia, Russia,
United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, France, Canada, Australia,
and Italy (IOM: World Migration Report, 2020).
According to IOM’s World Migration Report 2020, more than 40% of all
international migrants worldwide in 2020 (115 million) were born in Asia,
nearly 20 percent primarily originating from six Asian countries including
India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Philippines, and Afghanistan.
Largest country of origin as of 2020 Migration Report
First is United States of America, Mexico was the second largest country of
origin, and the Russian Federation was third. Several other European
countries have sizable populations of emigrants including Ukraine, Poland,
UK, Romania, and Germany.
