2.8 Causes of Migration

Push and Pull Factors

Migration decisions stem from push factors (conditions that drive people away, like war, famine, or persecution) and pull factors (conditions that attract people, like jobs or safety). Ravenstein's Laws of Migration first described patterns like most migrants moving short distances and migration increasing with economic development.

Types of Migration Causes

Causes are grouped into economic (seeking jobs/wages), cultural (fleeing persecution, war, or seeking religious/political freedom), environmental (natural disasters, climate change), and political (forced migration, ethnic cleansing). Voluntary migration is a choice, while forced migration occurs under duress, such as with refugees.

Intervening Factors

Intervening obstacles are barriers that hinder migration, such as physical terrain, cost, or immigration laws. Intervening opportunities are chances to stop before reaching the final destination, satisfying migration needs along the way. Step migration describes moving toward a goal through a series of smaller, shorter moves.

Key terms

Push factor

A negative condition that drives people to leave their home location, such as war or famine.

Pull factor

A positive condition that attracts migrants to a new location, such as job opportunities.

Intervening obstacle

A barrier, physical or political, that hinders migration, such as terrain, cost, or laws.

Forced migration

Migration that occurs under duress, without free choice, such as refugees fleeing persecution.

Ravenstein's Laws of Migration

Early theories describing migration patterns, including that most migrants travel short distances and migration increases with economic development.

Try an AP-style question

The drought is a…

1. chain migration
2. pull factor
3. push factor
4. intervening obstacle