Migration, Inequality and the Consequences

Migration is a social process that has attracted the attentions of Iranian scholars during recent decades. Like many other social subjects, migration has different dimensions, such as demographic, economic, cultural, political, etc. So, a relatively comprehensive study on this subject demands for an interdisciplinary approach. The main aim of this paper is to focus on the interrelations between migration and inequality. The study method employed in this paper is documental-theoretical research and our argument will be supported by statistical data derived from the official censuses of Iran. The theoretical framework of this investigation is a ‘migration selectivity’ approach based on the classical theories of migration. This approach seems to be appropriate for the present study. The results of this inquiry show that the relationship between migration and inequalities is very vast and complicated. That is, population mobility leads to bringing changes not only in population distribution and in demographic structures (such as sex, age, etc.), but also in education, occupation, housing conditions and so on. These changes in their turn will have an influence on conditions of inequality and make it complicated more than before.