RAVANSTEIN MIGRATION THEORY: "LAWS OF MIGRATION"(1885)

Ravenstein studied patterns of migration in the UK in 1880s using the Census birth-place data. In his model, Ravenstein talked about ‘migration phenomena’ which revolves around the streams of migration. According to him migration is a continuous process resulting in more balanced redistribution of population.Ravenstein’s laws are, in actuality, empirical generalisations based on his calculations from the British and other censuses of his time. They referred more to internal than international migration.

 Ravenstein's Laws of Migration:

1. Most migrants move only a short distance.
2. There is a process of absorption, whereby people immediately surrounding a rapidly growing town move into it and the gaps they leave are filled by migrants from more distant areas, and so on until the attractive force [pull factors] is spent.
3. There is a process of dispersion, which is the inverse of absorption.
4. Each migration flow produces a compensating counter-flow.
5. Long-distance migrants go to one of the great centers of commerce and industry.
6. Natives of towns are less migratory than those from rural areas.
7. Females are more migratory than males.
8. Economic factors are the main cause of migration.