(a) What is net migration?
(b) Explain any four economic consequences of rural-urban migration in your country.
(c) Identify any two measures government can adopt to minimize rural-urban migration in your country.
Explanation
(a) Net migration is the difference between the number of immigrants and emigrants in a particular country.
(b)(i) The rural areas are deprived of youthful labour force.
(ii) Neglect of agriculture and traditional crafts in the rural areas.
(iii) Congestion/overpopulation in the urban centres.
(iv) Increase in crime rate / vices in urban areas due to the emergence of slums.
(v) Pressure on social amenities in urban centres.
(vi) Increase in government expenditure in urban areas.
(vii) Availability of a pool of unskilled labour in the urban areas, leading to unemployment.
(viii) Uneven development will result since efforts of government will be concentrated in the urban area
(c)(i) Government can adopt measures to encourage rural industrialization e.g. granting tax rebates and holidays to rural industries.
(ii) Government should provide social amenities in rural areas such as roads, good drinking water, electricity etc.
(iii) Granting of special incentives to encourage increased agricultural production in rural areas.
(iv) Establishment of educational institutions in the rural areas with incentives such as scholarship schemes.
(v) Establishment of financial institutions in the rural areas to enhance financial transactions.
(vi) Entrepreneurial training to equip the youth with skills to enable them set up their own businesses.
(vii) Guaranteed minimum prices for agricultural produce.
(viii) Provision of easy credit at reduced interest rates by the government, as start-up capital for entrepreneurs.