Chapter VI: Urbanization and Rural-Urban Migration
Questions and Discussions:
1. One of the major keys in solving the serious problem of excessive rural-urban migration, thus,
rising urban unemployment and urban unemployment in mostly developing countries is an
equal and balance economic and social opportunities through country side development.
Discuss your idea on this statement, and give specific government strategies to address this
problem.
The inadequacies of rural life pressure individuals to urban migration. This pattern of imbalances
is shaped by rural-urban inequalities socially, economically, environmentally, and politically.
Also, confirms opportunity and income inequities, poverty, and unemployment. Due to rapid
urban expansion (population growth), the Philippine government raises equal and balance
economic and social opportunities through countryside development. “To make the countryside
economically viable for the Filipino family by building partnership and promoting social equity
and new economic opportunities towards lasting peace and sustainable rural development.”
These opportunities account to agrarian reform under the Arroyo program, associates with
recognizing the right of farmers, farmworkers, and landowners, as well as cooperatives and
other independent farmers’ organizations, to participate in the planning, organization, and
management of the program, and providing support to agriculture through appropriate
technology and research, and adequate financial production, marketing, and other support
services. (see article R.A. 6657, sec. 2). Generally speaking, expanding opportunities in rural
areas refrain individuals from migration urbanization, thus reducing poverty and inequalities as
well as promoting growth and development.
2. Discuss the consequences both positive and negative aspects of informal urban labour market.
Increasing rural-urban migration leads to a higher supply of urban labor. This will result in a
rising urban unemployment rate and thus, the informal employment rate expands. Urban
informal sector job is a survival strategy to employ those who cannot absorb in the formal
economy. It creates job opportunities and generates income. However, governments define
informality as illegal as it is non-registered and non-taxed. Informal employment is also
vulnerable as individuals have no access to labor laws with no social security, severance pay,
minimum wage, or standards for working conditions. And might be condemned to be small and
not competitive.
3. Is the problem rapid urbanization significantly related to population policy issue to a country?
Explain your answer.
Population policies are primarily a response to the anticipated consequence of rapid
urbanization. The rapid growth of cities intensifies congestion. This demographic transition
creates imbalances in the aggregate economy, thus, graves economic growth and development.
References:
[Link]
URBANIZATION AND LABOR MARKET INFORMALITY ([Link])
Republic Act No. 6657 | Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines
