Study on the Spatial Pattern of Migration Population in Egypt and Its Flow Field Characteristics from the Perspective of “Source-Flow-Sink”

Zhishan Ma, Susu Zhang and Sidong Zhao
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Zhishan Ma: Department of Arabic, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Alexandria 11445, Egypt
Susu Zhang: Department of Arabic, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Alexandria 11445, Egypt
Sidong Zhao: School of Architecture, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-27

Abstract: Based on the provinces as the spatial nodes of population migration, a “Source-Flow-Sink” analysis framework of population migration flow in Egypt was established by “Source-Sink” Theory and Flow Field Theory to study the migration population in Egypt. It reveals the spatial pattern of the migration population in Egypt and its flow field characteristics and provides theoretical basis for the formulation of population development policies and regional spatial governance planning. The results show that: (1) there are significant spatial differences in the size and rate of migration in Egypt. In 2017, the migration population in Egypt exceeded 2.2 million in total, with a migration rate of 2.33%, and the extreme multiple reached 80 and 12. (2) According to the spatial pattern of geographical distribution, the Source System is divided into five types: axis type, layer type, fan type, oblique symmetry type, and scattered jump type. There are only three types in Sink System, namely wide area coverage type, local development type, and scattered jump type. Source Places lie in the middle, Sink Places are symmetrical from east to west, and Exchange Places are concentrated along the Mediterranean coast in the north of Cairo on the whole, with the initial formation of a “core-periphery” spatial pattern. (3) The interprovincial population migration flow in Egypt is dominated by neighborhood penetration and polarization of high-rank nodes (capitals or regional economic centers), giving rise to 7 modes of central system spatial structures and 3 modes of pole-core interaction. The central system of flow fields with clear priorities and the streamline channel network with layered trunks and branches basically take shape, overall characterized by stepped runoff from east to west, and local convection from south to north.

Keywords: source-sink; flow field; migration population; space distribution; Egypt (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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