Push-Pull Mechanism
- People have migrated from one place to another either within their country (internal migration) or across borders (international migration)
- Globalisation has made this move easier and faster
- There are different types of migration
- Forced
- Voluntary
- Circular
- Political: refugees and asylum seekers
- The main reason for movement are push-pull factors
- The push factor is the reality of the current situation for the migrant
- It is what makes the person consider moving from their place of origin
- The pull factor is the perceived outcome
- It is what they imagine the move will bring to their place of destination
- Push-pull factors are unique to each migrant, depending on their end goal
- These factors can be divided into:
- Social
- Economic
- Political
- Environmental
- High levels of unemployment are a push factor, but higher wages and a better lifestyle are a pull factor
Exam Tip
- Remember do not just state the opposite when asked to give push-pull factors
- Poverty is a push factor, however, everywhere has certain levels of poverty, so a pull factor could be better welfare and healthcare services
Push-pull factors of migration
- Three other factors are:
- Modern communications
- Mass media allow people to 'see' and 'feel' distant places without the risk of moving to an unknown and potentially unwelcoming destination, making people more willing to migrate
- Modern transport
- This moves the migrant to their destination quickly and cheaply once the decision has been made to migrate
- Relaxed national borders
- Globalisation has made many countries more willing to relax their boundaries, particularly if it is to their advantage, e.g. skilled migrant workers, doctors, scientists, etc.
- Modern communications