The second largest influence upon developing cities growth rates is net in-migration, accounting for approximately 30% of increase. Net in-migration can be seen across the developing world.
According to J Gugler in Internal Migration in the Third World;
“Rural-urban migration constitutes the last phase in a great human revolution; it completes the urban transition…. the magnitude of it, the sheer number of people involved in it, is without precedent in human history.”
. A complex process underlies the nature of rural-urban migration and the reasons behind it. Colonialism can be attributed to the location and magnetism of several larger developing world cities and explains why growth is greatest in these particular cities. The underlying influence was that of colonialism which brought tropical countries into a capitalist system and a worldwide economy. Colonialism lay the pathway for industrialisation of developing world countries through the investment in infrastructure created. Most of the large cities of the developing world are based on the administrative role processes initiated by colonial powers and on economic activities bringing them into a world trading system. If rural-urban migration is considered as a push-pull system, then colonialism initiated and intensified the pull factor of cities. Incoming wealth was focused upon cities and drained rural areas of their resources. National Governments served to intensify the inequalities established by focussing economic growth upon one major city, often leading to the development of a primate city, such as Lima in Peru. Reliance was placed on outside countries for trade and investment whilst traditional rural supply areas were neglected. As industrialisation took place, multinational firms located factories in cities, which led to the necessary infrastructure needed to support operations also being located in the city. A multiplier effect could be seen and this led to greater disparities between rural and urban areas.
The cities, particularly primates and megacities, gained a status synonymous with opportunity and a better quality of life. A pull effect was instigated and appeal generated in the views of rural dwellers.
In Mexico City, approximately 1000 people arrive from rural areas every day. Factors influencing the decision to move include the aforementioned pull of the city. The pull of the city includes several variables; perceived improved employment opportunities, perceived better commercial and public services and amenities, and a better quality of life.The pull of the cities is not the only factor that contributes to net in-migration to cities. Push factors associated with struggles of rural life interacted with the perceived opportunities of the cities and decision-making processes to make urbanisation a strong cause of growth in major cities. Not all cities were affected by this trend as middle sized centres were skipped, most migrants aimed to move to the largest city.
Personal mobility increased and the possibility of moving became more viable to a greater proportion of rural dwellers, as did the distance it was possible to travel. Images through global communication media and social networks have strengthened the pull of the city as greater volumes of information are available to rural dwellers.
The last major factor affecting urban growth in the developing world is the reclassification of city borders. Physically even though people maybe living in the same area the way in which they are classified into regions and the accuracy of censuses can substantially affect population estimates of cities. This manipulation of boundaries and collection of figures is thought to account for approximately 10% of urban growth. Examples of how this factor may affect urban areas are the inclusion of a wider area surrounding a city and the inclusion of shantytown dwellers into figures.
