Lee's model of migration proposes that people move due to push and pull factors. Push factors induce people to leave their origin location due to negatives like poverty or instability, while pull factors attract people to destinations that have positives like job opportunities or thriving economies. People evaluate the push and pull factors of different locations along with any intervening obstacles like distance or borders to determine if the factors are strong enough to force or entice migration, or if closer intermediate locations are preferable.

1. Lee’s Model
of Migration

2. Push / Pull Factors
•Push Factors: induce people to move out
of their current location.
Ex: poverty, political instability, religious
intolerance.
•Pull Factors: induce people to move to
new location.
Ex. Democratic gov., thriving economies, job
opportunities.

3. Simple Migration Model
PUSH
Origin
PULL
Destination
Migration

4. Characteristics
• Every location has a range of attributes.
- negative
+ positive
0 neutral
• Different people will have different perceptions
of the push / pull factors.
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5. Lee’s Model of Migration
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Intervening Obstacles DestinationOrigin
Could include:
•Mountains
•Sea
•Borders
•Rivers
•Distance

6. The Decision
People will decide based on certain criteria
Are the push factors enough to force me to move?
[Forced Migration]
Are the pull factors enough to entice me to move?
[Voluntary Migration]
Do the intervening obstacles make migration worth while?
Is there somewhere closer on the route that I like?
[Intervening Opportunity]

7. The Decision
People will decide based on certain criteria
Are the push factors enough to force me to move?
[Forced Migration]
Are the pull factors enough to entice me to move?
[Voluntary Migration]
Do the intervening obstacles make migration worth while?
Is there somewhere closer on the route that I like?
[Intervening Opportunity]