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Influencing inter-regional migration

University of British Columbia

Concern about population growth has become widespread in recent years. Although this concern is often expressed in global terms, it also arises at the community or regional level. If the rate of population growth is in fact a problem at this scale in many areas, as it appears to be, then it is desirable to have methods available to alleviate the problem. The population growth rate in a given region depends upon three factors: the birthrate, the deathrate, and the rate of net migration to the region. In many regions, particularly those including large urban areas, the net migration rate predominates in determining the rate of population growth. In order to significantly influence the population growth rate in such a region, methods of altering the net migration flow will usually be required. The purpose of this work was to investigate policies that could be used to reduce the net immigration flow to a given region. The investigation proceeded as follows. A review of the literature concerning migration was performed, with particular emphasis on the causes of migration and the characteristics of migrants. Previous attempts to reduce net immigration were examined, so that the scope of methods used for this function might be perceived. A system of classification of these methods was developed, and a scheme of method evaluation was devised and applied to each class of methods in the system of classification. It was found that there are serious shortcomings in most of the methods used to date. After considering the various types of problem found to exist in previously-used net immigration reduction attempts, four types of policy were suggested for consideration when such attempts are made in the future. These types were: Publicity campaigns, limitation of immigrant access at the national level, direct taxation of immigrants, and direct incentives to emigrants.

Text

2010-01-21

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/18806

Planning

University of British Columbia

Graduate