Question
A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefits cities rather than rural areas.
What problems might this difference causes ? How might these problems be reduced ?
Sample answer
Differences, on the bright side, enrich the variety of the world. However, differences, in this case originated from policy partiality and regional imbalance, are discouraging: only urban areas are blessed with living standard improvements. In contrast, less developed areas suffer from such problems as an influx of population, weakening agriculture, and less care for the young and old.
To begin with, problems loom large when a huge rural population migrates into cities. The sudden increase of city dwellers instantly translates into congested traffic, job competition, a rise in daily expenditure, and more polluted environment. To decrease the burden of cities, higher entrance standards are to be set so that unreasonable migration can be curbed to some degree, for example increasing property price and raising job qualifications.
Subsequently, with population, labour force in particular, staying in cities, agriculture suffers. Farming is still a generally labour-intensive industry in the world. Thus, less labour force means agricultural instability, and national instability in the bigger picture. With lurking food shortage, governments are compelled to enact favourable policies towards agricultural production as in subsidies in produce price and investment in modern farming technologies.
Moreover, when farming lands are abandoned, family members are left behind. It is not likely for migrating rural citizens to bring to cities their less socially competitive family members, i.e. the elderly and the young. With a huge age difference present, either the old or the young can barely take care of the other. In this case, governments will have to step in again to set up nurseries, schools, and retirement homes to accommodate the less-cared-for rural population.
In sum, negative situations resulted in regional differences are about waning agriculture, less care for children and senior citizens, and common urbanisation-related problems. Governmental control and adjustments, with policy and/or investment, are the cure.
