Temporary Internal Migrations in Spain, 1860-1930

Abstract

Nineteenth-and early-twentieth-century industrialization provoked quantitative and qualitative changes in traditional European migratory patterns. Most of the economic and social history literature concerning the study of European internal migration during the industrializing period has emphasized permanent migration. This article shows, however, that temporary internal migration was common not only in preindustrial societies but in industrializing ones too. The article also examines the causes and the consequences of the persistence of temporary internal migrations in Spain from the mid-nineteenth century to the period leading up to the outbreak of the Spanish civil war . Aggregate data sources are used in depth for this purpose. The information derived from aggregate sources is supplemented by reference to secondary sources, mainly comprising local and regional studies.Nineteenth-and early-twentieth-century industrialization provoked quantitative and qualitative changes in traditional European migratory patterns. On the one hand, the first globalization generated mass emigration (Hatton and Williamson 1998;Massey et al. 1998;Hoerder 2002). On the other hand, and taking into account the problems related to the definition and measurement of internal migrants, it has been argued that the phenomena of structural change, industrialization, and urban growth led to an increase in internal migrations (e.g., Baines 1994a; Bade 2003). As the nineteenth century advanced, moreover, many internal migrations tended to become more permanent in nature. Besides this, migrants increasingly moved over medium or

Long-run regional population disparities in Europe during modern economic growth: a case study of Spain

“…In particular, migrations in many parts of southern Spain remained unexpectedly low, given their very low standards of living with respect to other regions. Furthermore, as the expansion of urban demand for labor in this phase was both slow and unstable (with significant cyclical variations), a considerable proportion of the southern rural population opted for temporary migrations rather than riskier migratory decisions (Carmona and Simpson 2003;Silvestre 2007). As a result of all the above, an acceptable functioning of the labor markets and rational behavior on the part of individuals were perfectly compatible with moderate rates of migration in a context of high distance-related costs (as a part of tight household budgets) and only a slight expansion of the employment opportunities generated by modern growth.…”

The question of land access and the Spanish land reform of 1932

“…Many landless workers, as well as small‐scale landowners and tenants, were also employed in the industrial and service sectors during some months of the year: Prados de la Escosura and Rosés, ‘Sources of long‐run growth’. In addition, a high proportion of workers were not attached to a particular farm but migrated in search of seasonal employment: Silvestre, ‘Temporary internal migrations’.…”

The occupational attainment of migrants and natives in Barcelona, 1930

“…Figures are not strictly equivalent; see Silvestre, ‘Temporary internal migrations’. In any event, rates of permanent in‐migration in the city and province of Barcelona between 1900 and 1930 increased from 40.8 to 56.1% and from 22.3 to 35.9%, respectively.…”

“…Vilá, ‘Aportación murciana’; Tatjer, ‘Inmigración’, p. 140; Checa, ‘Immigrants’, p. 88; Oyón et al., Barcelona 1930 , pp. 60–2; Silvestre, ‘Temporary internal migrations’, pp. 553, 555; Martínez‐Soto, Pérez de Perceval, and Sánchez Picón, ‘Itinerarios migratorios’.…”