The Impact of Population on Urban Migration in the New Hebrides”’ Patterns and Cash-cropping

T the present time important changes in migratory movements are A affecting most Pacific Islands. On their particular scale, the New Hebrides provide an interesting example. In recent years migration to work in the urban areas has ,continued even after the sudden growth of Vila which took place in 1971 and 1972’. On the other hand, the earlier circular migration (see Bedford 1972) which predominated until recently is beginning to be increasingly overwhelmed by a “wild” or uncontrolled migration (see Bonnemaison 1974, 1975) of a new type, much more individualistic. The end result of this new type of migration is the transformation of temporary movement for work purposes into a more permanent migratory movement, apart from when economic conditions in towns are unfavourable.’ What are the underlying reasons for this migratory movement? The first explanation that springs to mind is a link between migration flows and economic factors, In this context, the recent large-scale migration would be most likely to affect islands with high population density and limited local resources. However, a clqse study of the different