10 Causes and consequences of migration

The movement of people from their home to another city, state, or country in search of work, shelter, or other reasons is called migration . Today, many people decide to migrate to have a better life, making job opportunities the most common reason why people do so. In turn, the lack of opportunities, the search for better education, globalization, natural disasters (floods and droughts) and, sometimes, the loss of crops, daily force people to make the determination to do so.

What are migrants

People who move from one place to another in search of work or shelter are called migrants. Most of the time, migrants are untrained or uneducated, so they are employed as daily wages (workers who are paid at the end of each day for their services). This means that they do not get enough money for the survival of their families and suffer many problems such as lack of food, sanitation, hygiene, a suitable place to live, etc.

Causes of migration

People migrate for many different reasons. These reasons can be classified as economic, social, political or environmental :

• Economic migration: moving to find work or pursue a particular career
• Social migration: moving somewhere to have a better quality of life or to be closer to family or friends
• Political migration: moving to escape political persecution or war
• Environmental causes: this includes natural disasters such as floods, fires, etc.

Some people choose to migrate , such as someone who moves to another country to improve their career opportunities. While others are forced to migrate , such as someone who moves due to war or famine. A refugee is someone who has left home and has no new home to go to. These often don’t carry many possessions with them and don’t have a clear idea of ​​where they can finally settle.

Push and pull factors

Push factors are the reasons people leave an area . They include:

• lack of services
• lack of security
• high crime
• crop failure
• drought
• flood
• poverty
• war

Pull factors are the reasons people move to a particular area . They include:

• higher employment
• more wealth
• best services
• good weather
• safer, less crime
• political stability
• most fertile land
• lower risk of natural hazards

Migration generally occurs as a result of a combination of these push and pull factors.

Consequences of migration

Migration is becoming a very important issue for the life of cities. Many opportunities and attractions in big cities attract large numbers of people who take risks to live there. Migration can have both positive and negative effects on the lives of migrants.

Positive impact

• Unemployment is reduced and people get better job opportunities.
• Migration helps improve people’s quality of life.
• It helps improve people’s social life as they learn about new cultures, customs, and languages, helping to enhance brotherhood between people.
• Skilled worker migration leads to higher economic growth in the region.
• Children have better opportunities for higher education.
• The population density is reduced and the birth rate decreases.

Negative impact

• The impact on the level of production and development of rural areas.
• The influx of workers in urban areas increases competition for work, houses, school facilities, etc.
• Having a large population puts too much pressure on natural resources, amenities, and services.
• It is difficult for a villager to survive in urban areas due to the lack of a natural environment and clean air. They have to pay for each and every one.
• Migration changes the population of a place, therefore, the distribution of the population is uneven.
• Many migrants are completely illiterate and uneducated, therefore not only are they unsuitable for most jobs, they also lack basic knowledge and life skills.
• Poverty prevents them from living a normal and healthy life.
• Children who grow up in poverty do not have access to adequate nutrition, education or health.
• Migration increases the slum areas in cities, which increases many problems such as unsanitary conditions, crime, pollution, etc.
• Sometimes migrants are exploited.
• Migration is one of the main causes of the increase in the nuclear family where children grow up without a larger family circle.

Types of migration

• Internal migration: moving to a new home within a state, country, or continent.
• External migration: moving to a new home in a different state, country, or continent.
• Emigration: leaving one country to move to another (for example, the pilgrims emigrated from England).
• Immigration: moving to a new country (for example, the pilgrims emigrated to the United States).
• Return migration: when groups of people return to where they came from.
• Seasonal migration: when people move with each season (for example, agricultural workers after harvests or working in cities out of season).

What is the difference between a refugee and a migrant

A migrant is a person who makes the conscious decision to leave their country to seek a better life elsewhere . Before deciding to leave their country, migrants can seek information about their new home, study the language, and explore employment opportunities. They can plan their trip, take their belongings, and say goodbye to the important people in their lives. They are free to return home at any time if things do not go as expected, if they are homesick, or wish to visit family and friends who have been left behind.

Refugees are forced to leave their country because they risk suffering or have suffered persecution . Refugees’ concerns are human rights and security, not economic benefits. They leave behind their homes, most or all of their belongings, family and friends. Some are forced to flee without warning and many have suffered major trauma or have been tortured or ill-treated. The journey to safety is fraught with danger and many refugees risk their lives seeking protection. They cannot return unless the situation that forced them to leave improves.

Questions about migration

Question 1: What are the benefits of living in a town?

Answer: In villages, people live in a natural environment. There are so many relaxing sounds, such as the gurgling of the flowing river, the murmur of the trees, and the chirping of birds. The people here live together as one big family and help each other through good times and bad.

Question 2: What are the demerits of village life?

Answer: There are fewer opportunities to earn money in villages, there are hospitals with a lack of facilities, people are not aware of new technological advances, the quality of education is poor compared to a city, among others.