It is true that the level of national development among metropolises and suburbs is unequal across a significant number of nations. This essay will first outline the far-reaching consequences of this phenomenon before suggesting what can be done to address it.
The urban-rural development gap can give rise to a massive influx of immigrants to big cities and the decline of living standards in the rural areas. Starting with the former, many young citizens from suburbs flock to metropolises because of the promise of better job opportunities and education in urban centers, leading to the outflow of educated individuals and an important labor force from the countryside. Turning to the latter, the standard of living in the suburbs has been decreasing due to the lack of infrastructure and basic services. Not only does healthcare have a limited number of hospitals and specialized medical facilities, but it also negatively influences the economy. As a result, the gap between urban centers and rural areas would be exacerbated.
The government and industries should join this force to tackle this issue. The most effective method should be investing in rural infrastructure such as transportation, schools and hospitals, as doing so can make these areas more attractive to live, thereby raising resident retention and enhancing the standard of living for rural dwellers. By relocating universities and manufacturing plants to the countryside, job opportunities can be created in these areas, in turn reducing urban migration. A perfect example for this is Costa Rica in the 1970s, as its government incentivized businesses to move to rural areas with tax benefits, and established a network of regional technical colleges there. As a result, this reduced the need for rural-to-urban migration and helped spur economic growth in Costa Rican suburban areas.
In conclusion, the disparity between cities and rural areas forces many individuals to immigrate to the urban centers, and exacerbates living standards in many parts of the world. Therefore, employers should pour more capital into establishing public facilities in rural areas, as well as decentralize government industries and services.