Migration, Urbanization, and Development: New Directions and Issues

International migration and urbanization are key dimensions of the process of socioeconomic development. The unprecedented movement of peoples within the borders of their own countries is undoubtedly one of the greatest transformations of humankind witnessed in the 20th century. International migration, while it has received perhaps less attention, is an equally important process in many societies. Policy analysts, especially those from developing countries where the phe­ nomenon of internal migration can be felt first hand, view migration as among the most important factors affecting the course of development. They conSistently report that understanding the causes and effects of internal migration and urbanization is vital to putting in place poliCies to cope with the stresses and harness the potentials of migration in the most efficient way possible. The world’s population will surpass the 6 billion mark in 1998. In just a few years more, another demographic landmark will be reached when over half of the world’s population will be urban dwellers. From that point on, the world is forecast to become increasingly urban. Latin America has already gone through this urban revolution and now has an urban population about three times larger than its rural popula­ tion. In the area of urbanization, the greatest changes in the future will occur in Mrica and Asia whose populations are still only about 35 percent urban.