Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one place to another. Migrants move from a place of origin to a place of destination. Migration may be permanent, temporary or seasonal, and it may be from rural to rural, rural to urban, urban to urban, or urban to rural areas.

The same person has two names: an immigrant to the place they move into, and an emigrant from the place they move out of. The place of origin loses population; the destination gains.

Why do people move? Migration is an attempt to achieve a better balance between population and resources. Two kinds of factors work together:

• Push factors make the place of origin less attractive: unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, an unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics, and economic backwardness.
• Pull factors make the destination more attractive: better jobs and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property, and a pleasant climate.

So people are pushed from home and pulled towards hope.