Migrant Classifications
2011 University of Chicago
Center for International Studies
Push-Pull Factors
 Push/Pull Factors: “Push” factors are
things that drive people AWAY from a
place, while “Pull” factors are things
that DRAW people IN to a place
 Can you see any potential trouble in
explaining migration solely in these
terms?
Scholars say the “Push/Pull”
model…
 …is too general. It could be just about
anything--economic, social, political--that
could be a factor. Does this tell us anything
useful?
…it suggests that humans neatly fall into
either the “push” or “pull” category, when
reality is much more complicated.
…it suggests that humans are strictly
extrinsically motivated (moved by something
outside themselves) to migrate, which may
not always be the case
Adapted from Virginia Parks presentation, “Economic Effects of Immigration: Lessons from the Chicago Labor Market” at the 2011 University of
Chicago Summer Teacher Institute, Migration: Causes and Consequences
Theories of Migration
In order to understand migration, we need more
complicated and detailed theories of WHY people
move. These are a few:
Neoclassical Economic Theory
Dual Labor Market Theory
World Systems Theory
Adapted from Virginia Parks presentation, “Economic Effects of Immigration: Lessons from the Chicago Labor Market” at the 2011 University of
Chicago Summer Teacher Institute, Migration: Causes and Consequences
Theories of Migration
Neoclassical Economic Theory: Show me the money!
• It’s all about supply and demand!
• The belief that migration flows from low-wage to
high-wage markets
• People make decisions to move based on this
question:
• Where will I get the best return on my skills?
• Any problems here???
Adapted from Virginia Parks presentation, “Economic Effects of Immigration: Lessons from the Chicago Labor Market” at the 2011 University of
Chicago Summer Teacher Institute, Migration: Causes and Consequences
Theories of Migration
Dual Labor Market Theory
• It’s all about JOBS
• Segmented labor market
• Primary: stable jobs, good pay, opportunities for
advancement, recognized social status
• Secondary: unstable, low pay, no or limited
opportunities to advance (regardless of skill),
low social status
• Natives shun jobs in secondary sector
• Immigrants needed as labor supply into secondary
sector jobs. There will always be a need for
migrants!
• Any problems here?
Adapted from Virginia Parks presentation, “Economic Effects of Immigration: Lessons from the Chicago Labor Market” at CIS Institute
Theories of Migration
World Systems Theory:
• It’s all about globalization!
• Positions migration within global economic system
• In drive for higher profits, companies enter poor
countries for cheap land, raw materials, and labor
• Entry disrupts internal socioeconomic systems
• Forces of globalization hasten penetration
• Transportation & communications technology
• Cultural homogenization
• Still…is this a perfect explanation???
Adapted from Virginia Parks presentation, “Economic Effects of Immigration: Lessons from the Chicago Labor Market” at CIS Institute
The Amenities Model--is it all about
preference and entertainment?
How Amenities Drive Urban Development, from TN Clark, ed., The City as an Entertainment
Machine
Pros and Cons of this model?
Adapted from Terry Nichols Clark presentation at at the 2011 University of Chicago Summer Teacher Institute, Migration: Causes and
Consequences
Which theory do you think
best fits most Americans?
Neo-Classical (go where the jobs are)
Dual Labor Market (natives will seek better
jobs and leave immigrants to take what is
left)
World Systems Theory (people are moving
with global business)
Amenities Model (people move for economic
reasons, but also personal preference as well)
Contrary to popular perception, the poorest of
the poor typically do not migrate
Emigration rate by level of human development
Low human development
3.7
(e.g., D.R. of Congo to Cote d’Ivoire)
Medium human development
4.5
(e.g., Myanmar to Gabon)
High human development
9.0
(e.g., Cuba to Bahrain)
Very high human development
5.5
(e.g., Barbados to Lichtenstein)
To developed countries
To developing countries
Source: Aaron Terrazas’s presentation at the 2011 University of Chicago Summer Teacher Institute, Migration: Causes and Consequences
Note: The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite measure of individual wellbeing in a country that takes into consideration life expectancy, adult
literacy rates, education enrollment, and per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Source: United Nations Development Program (UNDP) calculations based on data from “Global Migrant Origin Database (Version 4),” Development Research
Center on Migration, Globalization and Poverty, University of Sussex.
Refugees and IDP’s-migrants without choice
A refugee is someone who owing to a well
founded fear of persecution for reasons of
political opinion, race, religion, nationality or
membership in a particular social group are
outside their country of nationality and are
unable or, as a result of such fear, unwilling to
return to it ...
An asylum seeker is someone who is
seeking refugee status
This definition is not always good enough, in
that it does not cover victims of natural
disasters
An Internally Displaced Person (IDP)
is essentially a refugee inside their own
country. Ex: A certain city is unsafe for
a certain religion, so those citizens
Source: Anwen Tormey’s persentation at the 2011
move elsewhere within the same
University of Chicago Summer Teacher Institute,
Migration: Causes and Consequences
country.