Economic integration, opportunity structure and migration in Papua New Guinea
Townsend, D.
Occasional Papers, Institute of Social Studies, Netherlands 80: 39
1980
Document Number: 519668
The paper draws on evidence of migration from the margins of the export-oriented rural economy to the margins of the urban system in Papua New Guinea, to expand Friedmann's model of polarized development with an understanding of: (1) evolution of inequality and the consequent migrant streams; (2) adjustment of migrants to the opportunity structure in various contexts. A core-periphery continuum is constructed for Papua New Guinea based on opportunity and integration into the world system. Economic space is subdivided on the basis of opportunities for survival, reproduction and improvement. Opportunity structures at two dates are compared. The cross-sectional presentation is used to show how certain migrants from the periphery have persisted and adapted to the opportunity structure. Case studies are provided of migrants from two areas in the Lae hinterland, to illustrate integration and migration processes, selected because of the long-term nature of their relationship with the cores of power and opportunity, and because of the author's familiarity with the people and village communities concerned. It is found that the cases described deny the simple dichotomy of core-periphery relationships. Rural-urban migration is likely to continue, in spite of government and foreign investment in rural activity. Expansion of the informal sector is likely to be inhibited by entrenchment of traditional rural economic and social structures.