Page 31 - Revista del Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo del INEI - Economía, Sociedad y Estadística N° 9

Dynamics of Internal

Migration in Peru

(1981-2017).

Are Rural Areas

Aging Faster?

Author: Msc. César Huaroto De la Cruz

Master in Economics - Pontifical
Catholic University of Peru.

Degree in economics - Pontifical
Catholic University of Peru.

1. INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION

Internal migration is one of the main demographic forces 90s, the return to democracy and the rapid economic
in Peru and Latin America. In particular, although Peru growth of the last 15 years). Notably, much of these so-
has levels of internal migration similar to those of the called “Asentamientos Humanos” (urban slums) were
rest of Latin America, it emphasizes that migrants are rapidly included in the economy of the rest of the city
younger, on average than the rest of the region. This and improved their standards of living, in contrast with
fact makes Peru a case of particular interest around a significant impoverishment in rural areas.
the demographic effects of migration and on the age
composition. However, internal migration has always been present.
In particular, much of the growth of cities is due to the
Moreover, over time this phenomenon was left aside constant flow of migrants from the interior, who are
as a topic of interest in the face of other more pressing looking for employment and educational opportunities.
problems (i.e., the economic consequences of the This supply of labor and this demand for services
Agrarian Reform, hyperinflation, terrorist violence, generates positive effects on economic growth that
international emigration, structural changes of the have received very little attention.

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