'A case study of rural to urban migration: patterns, reasons and
impacts.'
Rio de Janeiro (on the south-east coast of Brazil) has 11.8 million people. it has high levels of natural increase due to many economic migrants from rural areas expecting the glamorous 'bright lights' and high wages of the city but disappointed. Therefore many large favelas have grown e.g. Rochina which is the largest favela on a hillside with over 100,000 people living in it. Physical factors (it is surrounded by hills) make it very difficult for Rio to grow increasing the effect of the overpopulation 65% of urban growth in Brazil is due to migration Reasons for the national migration occurring in Brazil: low unreliable rainfall in some rural areas causing drought and poverty difficult for farmers to produce food continuing their subsistence way of life as life in the city is easier, lack of piped water or sanitation in rural areas, and better job prospects (economic and environmental push factors). Social push factors include better services in the city e.g. education for children, more health services and better transport links. Impacts on the city: Social impacts include lack of amenities such as toilets or waste collection in the favelas as they are self- built. This leads to urban pollution. Overpopulation is another social impact leading to over-crowding in schools and pushing people into crime. Traffic congestion is another social problem. Impacts on the rural areas: Positive economic impacts include money being sent back home from city migrants helping the rural economy. Less people also means less pressure on services and more land increasing quality of life and food supplies. Negative impacts on rural areas: social impacts include a 'brain drain' leaving the difficult work to the elderly as the young leave. imbalance in the population structure created.