see a man at the desk.
“Mr Turner?”
Did he know, or had he just been told by his colleague to
expect him. “Yes, I’ve come to pick up a hire car.”
“It’s all ready for you. If you would just like to follow me
out, I’ll show you.” It was a blue station wagon, still beaded with
water and glistening under the early evening street lights. “The
keys are in it and there are maps in the glove box. Just replace
any fuel you use. Have a safe trip.”
Chapter 5
May 1997 - Five years earlier
'The concept of mass migration during the twentieth century
has been widely recognized and documented by both academics and
governments alike. Throughout the early-to-middle part of the
century, this has been attributed primarily to the effects of war
and politics. However, in the second half of the century, there has
been a trend towards migration for purely economic, or even social,
reasons. Worldwide affordable travel has encouraged millions to
change continent, or hemisphere, permanently in search of a better
standard of living or lifestyle.
Although the term ‘globalization’ has been in use since the
1940s, its popular meaning is credited to Theodore Levitt, an
American economist and professor at the Harvard Business School who
used the phrase in 1985 to describe the phenomenon of increasing
global connectivity, and integration between nation states,
businesses - both national and multi-national - and individuals.
The significance of Levitt’s work has not been lost on governments
who have seen a potential risk to national identity through the
influx or exodus of large numbers of people.’
Those within the American Government whose job it was to
research and, if required, find practical applications for ideas
put forward by academics like Levitt, came to a startling
conclusion in early 1997. The theory was tantalizing and eminently
provable, but in order to convince the Senate Committees
responsible, they had to be persuaded to put in motion a daring
social experiment.
The Migration Manipulation Program would be a bold and highly
risky course of action, intended primarily to control and influence
the mass movement of people from one country to another without the
knowledge of the government of any country involved or, more
importantly, the people themselves.
The theory was based on research conducted by a team from the
University of Southern California who had used published
statistical evidence to demonstrate that when the price of fuel
rose, Californians drove their automobiles less.'
A simple fact even this current reader found little argument
with. He sighed deeply and read on.
'The theory model has been extrapolated into the wider
population. In the past thirty years, when fuel prices have
increased, people have also been less inclined to fly, so the
number of foreign holidays taken has decreased.'
He peered over his half-moon spectacles at the illustrative
graph showing a correlation between the fluctuating prices of crude
oil from 1973 to the present against the number of overseas flight
taken by Americans during the same twenty year period. He could not
yet see the point, but still pressed on.
He continued reading as the clock struck midnight. The lengthy
report explained that other factors also had a bearing on travel
decisions which, in turn, had a measurable effect on population
migration trends. Economic and political factors in the homelands
of migrants worldwide had been recognized influences for a hundred
years but the Californian sociologists had uncovered evidence to
suggest that far more subtle issues could, over time, influence a
person, or whole families, to decide to move not just house but
country. Crime rates, employment and weather were unsurprising,
elements on the list.
With increasingly heavy eyes, he read on. Just this last
report to finish tonight, he thought, although he could really see
little point as to why this was supposed to be
“Mr Turner?”
Did he know, or had he just been told by his colleague to
expect him. “Yes, I’ve come to pick up a hire car.”
“It’s all ready for you. If you would just like to follow me
out, I’ll show you.” It was a blue station wagon, still beaded with
water and glistening under the early evening street lights. “The
keys are in it and there are maps in the glove box. Just replace
any fuel you use. Have a safe trip.”
Chapter 5
May 1997 - Five years earlier
'The concept of mass migration during the twentieth century
has been widely recognized and documented by both academics and
governments alike. Throughout the early-to-middle part of the
century, this has been attributed primarily to the effects of war
and politics. However, in the second half of the century, there has
been a trend towards migration for purely economic, or even social,
reasons. Worldwide affordable travel has encouraged millions to
change continent, or hemisphere, permanently in search of a better
standard of living or lifestyle.
Although the term ‘globalization’ has been in use since the
1940s, its popular meaning is credited to Theodore Levitt, an
American economist and professor at the Harvard Business School who
used the phrase in 1985 to describe the phenomenon of increasing
global connectivity, and integration between nation states,
businesses - both national and multi-national - and individuals.
The significance of Levitt’s work has not been lost on governments
who have seen a potential risk to national identity through the
influx or exodus of large numbers of people.’
Those within the American Government whose job it was to
research and, if required, find practical applications for ideas
put forward by academics like Levitt, came to a startling
conclusion in early 1997. The theory was tantalizing and eminently
provable, but in order to convince the Senate Committees
responsible, they had to be persuaded to put in motion a daring
social experiment.
The Migration Manipulation Program would be a bold and highly
risky course of action, intended primarily to control and influence
the mass movement of people from one country to another without the
knowledge of the government of any country involved or, more
importantly, the people themselves.
The theory was based on research conducted by a team from the
University of Southern California who had used published
statistical evidence to demonstrate that when the price of fuel
rose, Californians drove their automobiles less.'
A simple fact even this current reader found little argument
with. He sighed deeply and read on.
'The theory model has been extrapolated into the wider
population. In the past thirty years, when fuel prices have
increased, people have also been less inclined to fly, so the
number of foreign holidays taken has decreased.'
He peered over his half-moon spectacles at the illustrative
graph showing a correlation between the fluctuating prices of crude
oil from 1973 to the present against the number of overseas flight
taken by Americans during the same twenty year period. He could not
yet see the point, but still pressed on.
He continued reading as the clock struck midnight. The lengthy
report explained that other factors also had a bearing on travel
decisions which, in turn, had a measurable effect on population
migration trends. Economic and political factors in the homelands
of migrants worldwide had been recognized influences for a hundred
years but the Californian sociologists had uncovered evidence to
suggest that far more subtle issues could, over time, influence a
person, or whole families, to decide to move not just house but
country. Crime rates, employment and weather were unsurprising,
elements on the list.
With increasingly heavy eyes, he read on. Just this last
report to finish tonight, he thought, although he could really see
little point as to why this was supposed to be
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