Rural-urban migration patterns in Africa   Term Paper ID:35904 Click to get this paper

Essay Subject: This paper looks at rural-urban migration patterns in Africa It examines patterns in South ...... More...

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Paper Abstract: This paper looks at rural-urban migration patterns in Africa. It examines patterns in South Africa, sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Zambia and Ghana. It looks at the reasons for the migration and its effect on the rural areas and on the cities. Paper Introduction: Africa\'s population problems are seen by some as both a cause and aconsequence of underdevelopment White Tagoe Stiff Adazu and Smith Massive migration to cities is seen as a result of failed rural developmentin sub-Saharan Africa and leads to urban poverty stressed socialservices environmental degradation and political upheaval While sub-Saharan Africa still has the lowest rate of urbanization in the world itis now undergoing the world\'s fastest rate of urbanization In WesternAfrica many social ills have been linked to rapid urban growth Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. Works CitedArthur, J.A. Migration patterns in Africa have been studied over the years and inthe 197 s and 198 s, attention was focused on the nature and implicationsof the migrant labor system in South Africa (Posel). Secondly, the number of people entering South Africa fromother African countries increased, which had social and economicconsequences. Since independence, migrantshave increased their length of stay in the cities, but still send moneyhome to their rural families. In terms of medical personnel and supplies, there is a skew towardsurban dwellers (Johnnie). Migrant workers faced uncertainemployment, and were not permitted to settle permanently in their places ofemployment, so retained economic ties with their households of origin bysending money home, and it was insurance against unemployment and for theirlong-term retirement. 29(2)(1991):145-165.Posel, Dorrit. With urbanization, migrants developed new ties to the towns and theextension of the social pension to all reduced the need for sending moneyhome (Posel). In Zambia, the primary urban areas are in the copper belt whichcomprises 45 percent of the total urban population of the country (Ogura).Thirty-one percent of the population now live in Lusaka and seven miningtowns. A larger andgrowing number of rural households have at least one member who is amigrant worker sending money home. Ninety-eight percent ofclerks migrated to get better jobs or to find employment. These became a new legion of circular immigrants, stayinglong enough to earn a little money and then returning home. One major factor in the high unemployment rate is thatschool-leavers tend to migrate to the cities looking for work. Income gaps between rural and urban areas account for much of therural-urban migration patterns (Ogura). 16(3)(1988):22-29.Ogura, M. Rural regions have therefore become economically disadvantaged,and rural households are looking to the cities for economic advantages.Interregional migration is based mostly on a reduction in available familyfarmland and a desire to improve one's economic status. Thegovernment has been unable or unwilling to address the problemsatisfactorily and has taken a bourgeoisie attitude of institutionalizingpoverty. Migrant workers over age 5 sendsignificantly more money home, presumably preparing for their retirement. Most labor migrants were men.Chiefs, fathers and husbands were able to restrict the mobility of womenand reinforced their roles in rural production. Problems of overcrowding increasethe problems of communicable diseases and pollution. Even second-generation urbanites retain tieswith their rural villages. "Rural-urban migration in Zambia and migrant ties to home villages." Developmental Economy. "Rural-urban migration patterns in Nigeria: consequences on housing, health-care and employment. Africa's population problems are seen by some as both a cause and aconsequence of underdevelopment (White, Tagoe, Stiff, Adazu and Smith).Massive migration to cities is seen as a result of failed rural developmentin sub-Saharan Africa, and leads to urban poverty, stressed socialservices, environmental degradation, and political upheaval. Movement of people between rural and urban areas in South Africa wasbrought about by an economic system through state interventions whichmobilized and controlled the labor force, and made permanent urbansettlements impossible for most migrants (Posel). "Urbanization and the fertility transition in Ghana." 2 2. The government has instituted ruraldevelopment policies to try and encourage people to stay out of the city,but to no avail because there has been no comprehensive nationaldevelopment scheme. 25 Nov. 25 Nov. In post-colonial Ghana, the greatest effort has been directed todeveloping the coastal cities, favoring urban areas over rural regions(Arthur). In the 199 s, therewas a shift towards permanent migration to the towns, partly because therestrictions on African urbanization were lifted, which meant families, notjust individuals could migrate, and the money sent home lessened. African workers fromSouth Africa's rural areas or Bantustans were not allowed to bring theirspouses or families to their place of work. Recent economic difficulties led to a reduced flow to urban areasand to an outflow from these areas, and female migration reflects theincrease in educational advances and the practice of housewives nowaccompanying their husbands when they migrate. When watchnights, laborers and messengers in Nigeria were asked whatmade them move from rural to urban areas, 94 percent said to get a betterjob and to increase their earnings (Johnnie). Men could earn more asurban workers than in their rural roles, whereas women could keep the homerunning by doing the rural chores. It was assumedthat post-Apartheid, people would not elect to be migrant workers, butwould choose to settle where they worked. "Have migration patterns in post-Apartheid South Africa changed?" 2 3. In WesternAfrica, many social ills have been linked to rapid urban growth and"overurbanization," and more than 5 million people are expected to migrateto cities in West Africa in the next 1 years. Migrants were encouraged to visit home frequently, and were notrequired to work while there, but it was a social occasion (Posel). In the cities,the number of migrants puts a strain on housing and social services, andurban unemployment rates are high. While sub-Saharan Africa still has the lowest rate of urbanization in the world, itis now undergoing the world's fastest rate of urbanization. They have tried to encourage the development of small andmedium-sized towns to draw the people away from the big cities whichattract a disproportionate share of rural-urban migrants. Migrant World Magazine. 2 5. The cities are unable to cope with the onrush ofurbanization. Rural areasbenefit by the money sent home by family members who work in the cities andthe technological contributions of returning migrants. 2 (2)(1991):89-1 3.Johnnie, P.B. There is atremendous shortage of housing for these workers in the city, and anenormous difference between the housing for the majority of the poor, andthe few wealthy residents of the cities. Since the 199 s, internal labor migration from rural areas hasincreased, and female migrant labor rates have risen (Posel). 2 5 White, Michael, J., Tagoe, Eva, Stiff, Catherine, Adazu, Kubaje, & Smith, Daniel. Many African governments have instituted policies ofimprovement of rural services and infrastructure to try and stem the rural-urban flow. However, ruralareas lose their most physically capable workers to the cities, leading tolower production on the land and a change in gender roles. Better educational opportunities,a better water supply, and the lure of the city lights are factorsincreasing rural-urban migration in Zambia. Theywere made to feel bound to their group of origin and among the Xhosa, weremade to feel "filial piety, fear of ancestors, and love of home" and thattowns were "bad" and absconding was an ultimate sin. All over Africa, it seems, people are flocking fromthe country to the cities, seeking a better life, but not really findingit. However, there is no evidencethat the circular migration of labor ended with the end of Apartheid. It was assumed thatmigrant labor would not be part of post-Apartheid South Africa, and thatthe system of internal labor migration was associated with legislationinhibiting and controlling the urbanization of Africans. In 1998, 63 percent ofAfrican governments saw patterns of population distribution as majorproblems, with rural-urban migration and the resulting growth of citiestheir main concern. "Interregional migration of labor in Ghana, West Africa: determinants, consequences and policy intervention." Review of Black Political Economy. Infact, temporary labor migration has increased because of the increase ofwomen in the labor force. If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.