Brazilian migration patterns between 1980 and 2010: toward a transitory period?

The reciprocal relationship between development and population dynamics affects the migration patterns. The level of regional development is affected by the migration process, and the subsequent migration flows are affected by the growth rates of the localities in a process of circular and cumulative causation. The aim of this paper is to identify the main characteristics of the Brazilian migration patterns’ between the 1980’s and the 2010’s. To achieve this goal, we analyze data from demographic census for the period, provided by IBGE. The migration criterion adopted considers migrant the individual who lives in a region for less than 05 years, regardless of his place of birth. Data analysis shows that migration patterns in Brazil are extremely related with the levels of regional development. Moreover, migration flows are associated with the advantages of urban centers, especially if they are located in medium sized cities. New trends begin to emerge and are related to the economic expansion of new destiny regions, with the decline of job opportunities in the most developed region of the country, and with return migration. Despite the changes observed, the inertial component of Brazilian dominant migration patterns decreases the expansion rate of its migration transition.