Socio-demographic and economic characteristics of migrant heads of households and the consequences of their migration in Fiji, 1992-1993

Internal migration is an integral part of the development process. It is influenced by development (such as the building of roads, economic activities and employment opportunities in certain areas) and it influences development (destination areas gain in skills and capital while areas of origin lose out) (Chandra and Chandra, 1998:60). There are relationships between and among migration, urbanization and socio-economic development. According to Skeldon (1992:45): “At a very simple level, there is a clear relationship between economic development and demographic variables. The most developed countries have the highest levels of urbanization … and they have low fertility and low rates of infant mortality. The least developed countries, however, have low levels of urbanization …”.