In the present age, many jobs are more focused in metropolitan cities; hence, these opportunities attract more people to live there. While some people are under the impression that governments should encourage individuals and companies to move to bucolic areas, others are in opposition to such a belief. In my view, the benefits overshadow the drawbacks as it solves several problems caused by overpopulation.
It is undeniable that the environment might be damaged by such a government’s program; as moving huge corporations to rural areas could pollute the fresh air. Before the relocation takes place, the rural areas are unspoiled; however, the arrival of huge factories introduces toxic waste to nature, which will be deleterious to the ecosystem. For instance, Kalimantan- an island located in Indonesia- is known as the world’s lungs due to its dense rainforest. Nevertheless, a huge number of trees are being deforested by companies because of the government’s encouragement to move from Jakarta – a metropolitan city – to Kalimantan.
On the other hand, encouraging relocation of corporate hubs could prevent overpopulation in urban areas. By shifting business operations to non-urban places, the burden on public transportation and roads can be eased because daily traffic commuters have been reduced. For example, a recent study from National University of Singapore revealed that by relocating 10% offices to non urban areas, it reduced 15% the traffic jams in the inner city .
Furthermore, moving to new cities – in this case less populated areas- could create new opportunities, reducing unemployment rates. This is because establishing business in new areas requires the company to hire local workforce. As a result, regional economies will be boosted, preventing them from migrating to dense cities.
In conclusion, although moving business to nonurban cities could carry environmental risks if left unregulated, I believe the advantages outweigh its disadvantage. This policy could not only solve the overpopulation problem, causing congestion and burden on public transport, but also helps to reduce the number of unemployment as new job opportunities emerge.