Case study 4 - Rural to urban migration in Brazil
Case study from specification: a case study of rural to urban migration: patterns, reasons and impacts
Migration in an LEDC - from Caatinga in Northeast Brazil to Sao Paulo
In the course of the last 25 years approximately 20,000 people have moved to city centre.
Why people moved away: Push Factors/Pull Factors
PUSH
- Low unreliable rainfall causes droughts.
PULL
- Job in cities like Sao Paulo.
PUSH
- Difficult for farmers to produce enough food to sustain their subsistence way of life.
PULL
- People think there are better job prospects and regular work that is not as back breaking.
PUSH - There is no piped water, electricity or sanitation.
PULL - Better access to services and better transport links.
PUSH AND PULL - Lack of schools and clinics in the area. Belief children will get a better education in the city.
PULL - The glamorous image of the city and ‘bright lights’ attracts people.
Positive effects:
More land is left for the people who stay in the countryside to farm. This increases food supplies and quality of life.
Money earned from rural to urban migrants can be sent home to families in the village improving living standards.
Negative effects:
As the most active leave the village farming will be difficult and left to women, children and the elderly.
The very young and very old tend to be left behind creating an imbalance in the Population structure – negative effects on social activities and recreation.
Migration in an LEDC - from Caatinga in Northeast Brazil to Sao Paulo
In the course of the last 25 years approximately 20,000 people have moved to city centre.
Why people moved away: Push Factors/Pull Factors
PUSH
- Low unreliable rainfall causes droughts.
PULL
- Job in cities like Sao Paulo.
PUSH
- Difficult for farmers to produce enough food to sustain their subsistence way of life.
PULL
- People think there are better job prospects and regular work that is not as back breaking.
PUSH - There is no piped water, electricity or sanitation.
PULL - Better access to services and better transport links.
PUSH AND PULL - Lack of schools and clinics in the area. Belief children will get a better education in the city.
PULL - The glamorous image of the city and ‘bright lights’ attracts people.
Positive effects:
More land is left for the people who stay in the countryside to farm. This increases food supplies and quality of life.
Money earned from rural to urban migrants can be sent home to families in the village improving living standards.
Negative effects:
As the most active leave the village farming will be difficult and left to women, children and the elderly.
The very young and very old tend to be left behind creating an imbalance in the Population structure – negative effects on social activities and recreation.
