Why International Migration?
Why International Migration?
This chapter reviews migrant definitions and trends, highlighting the fact that there were 175 million migrants in 2000. The United Nations Population Division defines international migrants as persons outside their country of birth or citizenship for twelve months or more, regardless of their reason for moving or legal status abroad. Since 1960, the share of migrants in more-developed countries has risen, while the share in less-developed countries has fallen, largely because of immigration and slow population growth in more-developed countries. The chapter discusses how several factors discourage international migration, including inertia, government controls, and economic development, but growing demographic and economic differences between nations nonetheless are encouraging many people to cross national borders in hope of a better life. These differences, combined with revolutions in communications, transportation, and the rights of individuals' vis-à-vis governments, promise more migrants in the twenty-first century.
Keywords: migrant, citizenship, developed countries, immigration, population growth, economic development
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