Abstract

PIP: Building upon the foundations set by the World Population Plan of Action in the areas of population distribution, internal and international migration, this paper closely follows the agenda of the meeting. It reviews conceptual approaches developed in the past 10 years by scholars and planners to analyze the urbanization process and internal and international migration. A short review of migration pattersn is then presented describing the spatial (rural, urban and metropolitan) and temporal dimensions. It examines the determinants and consequences of rural migration at the micro and macro levels for developing countries. The paper then describes the characteristics of the urbanization process in developing and developed countries and discusses the consequences of migration for the growth of large cities in developing countries, mainly at the macro level. The usual rapid urbanization and high rates of urban population growth of developing countries are then contrasted with the relative and sometimes even absolute decline of large agglomerations and the leveling off of urbanization in several developed countries. Goals, strategies, and algernative distribution policies are discussed followed by a review of patterns and policies of different types of interpersonal migrations and their consequences: "settler" migration, temporary labor migration, illegal or undocumented migration and refugees. The World Population Plan of Action reiterates the importance of integrated plans and programs or overall social and economic development which take into account the distribution of the benefits of development among all groups and regions. There is little ccertainty about the structural determinants of rural migration. The effect of structural determinants on migration are mediated by such factors as household structure and an individual's motivation. The pattern of urbanization generally follows an S-shaped curve in the developed countries. In many developing countries, however, the pattern consists of rapid urbanization, high rates of urban population growth and an unbalanced urban structure. A most important population distribution goal is to aim for a settlement pattern that maximizes prospective real incomes for all, regardless of where they live or whether they are migrants or non-migrants.