Push factors or pull factors are factors in which would make one individual want to move out of certain areas (called push factors) and factors that would make one person attracted to another area (called pull factors). Push and pull factors may vary from place to place, and may also depend on the individual's opinions. Common push factors may range from poverty, famine, bullying, discrimination, war, and even difficulty in finding courtship. Pull factors may range from high income, more food services, low crime rates, anti-discrimination laws, less bullying, and peace.
Push Factors
A push factor is a feature or event that pushes a person away from or encourages a person to leave his or her current residence, city, state or country, organization, or religion.
Push factors for leaving one's current residence include:
- Family conflict (such as divorce and domestic violence) or other family worries
- Unfavorable conditions in the current residence
- Oppression
- Lack of independence in the current residence
- Lack of services in the locality of the current residence
Push factors for leaving a city, state, or country of origin include:
- Lack of jobs
- High crime rate
- Poverty
- Unreliable food services or famine
- Environmental problems
- Pollution
- Drought
- Natural disasters
- Overcrowding or Overpopulation
- Fear of loss of wealth
- Difficulty finding courtship
- High cost of living
- Bullying
- Discrimination, or negative stereotyping
- Religious or political oppression or persecution
- Destructive, detrimental or otherwise undesirable form of government
- Repressive culture
- Warfare or civil strife
Economics provide the main reason for leaving a country of origin. Environmental problems and natural disaster lead to loss of money, shelter, and employment.
Pull Factors
A pull factor is a feature or event that attracts a person to move to another area.
Pull factors include:
- Better environmental conditions
- More or better services in that area
- More reliable food services (lower risk of famine)
- Higher standards of living
- Higher income
- Peace (absence of civil strife or warfare)
- Better behavior among the people (lower crime rates, less bullying, and higher moral standards)
- Anti-discrimination laws
- More desirable climate (more temperate)
- Better chances of finding courtship
- Immediate distance from family problems
- Economic stability and less risk of loss of wealth
- Cultural diversity
- Religious or political tolerance (living in a more liberal or less repressive state or country)
- More comfortable housing