How Do Spatial Interactions Influence Migration Flows and Megacity Development?
Imagine standing in a bustling city square, surrounded by people from all over the world. What draws them here? Why do some cities grow into megacities while others remain small?
NoteSpatial interactions - the flows of people, goods, and information between places - are key to understanding these patterns.
Migration Flows: Why Do People Move?
Push and Pull Factors
- Push factors drive people away from their current location, such as:
- Conflict or persecution.
- Economic hardship.
- Environmental disasters.
- Pull factors attract people to a new location, such as:
- Better job opportunities.
- Safety and stability.
- Access to education and healthcare.
Migration Flow Maps
- Migration flow maps help visualize the movement of people between regions.
- They highlight major migration corridors and the volume of flows.
When analyzing a migration flow map, look for patterns such as major routes, regions with high out-migration and their common characteristics (e.g. rural areas in LICs), as well as popular destinations and their features (e.g. coastal cities in MICs).
Can you identify the pattern and main push and pull factors driving migration based on a circular plot that represents international migration flows?
Legend:
- The thickness of the line connecting the world regions shows the size of migration (in millions of people)
- When the line touches the circle it indicates the source of migration, while when it does not it indicates the destination (as shown by the arrows in the example of Central America)
Megacity Development: Why Do Some Cities Explode in Size?
What Is a Megacity?
- A megacity is an urban area with a population of over 10 million people.
- Examples include Tokyo, Lagos, and São Paulo.
Megacities are often economic hubs, attracting people from rural areas and smaller cities.
Why Do Megacities Grow?
- Rural-Urban Migration: People move to cities for jobs, education, and better living standards.
- Natural Increase: High birth rates in urban areas contribute to population growth.
- Globalization: Cities connected to global markets attract businesses and workers.
Silicon Valley's tech boom is partly due to its diverse, urban environment of San Francisco and its surroundings.
Negative Impacts of Urban Growth
- Overcrowding: High population density strains housing and infrastructure.
- Environmental Degradation: Pollution and waste management become critical issues.
- Social Inequality: Slums and informal settlements often lack basic services.
Urbanization Rates
- Urbanization rates measure the percentage of a population living in urban areas.
- High urbanization rates often correlate with megacity growth.
How do cultural perceptions of urban life influence migration decisions? Consider how media, family networks, or education shape people's knowledge about cities and their choices.
