Urban Migration and Economic Development in Chile

The years between 1940 and 1960 in Chile were marked by economic stagnation. Urban migration, reflecting this economic decay, as well as demographic conditions, are the subject of this study. The work attempts to coordinate the record of Chile's economic development with an account of its concomitant internal migration. In particular, shifts in urban population and changes in the structure of the labor force are explored in an attempt to understand the role of migration. The study deals explicitly with the economic implications of internal migration. It is the first work of its kind to consider internal migration within a less developed country with an income that has risen above the lowest levels. Higher incomes in Chile change many of the preconceptions about the economic impact of migration, both for the migrant and for society. The book deals extensively with these differences.