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Difficulty: HardPopulation Migration Causes and Effects

In an agricultural district in West Africa, prolonged seasonal droughts and declining crop yields have prompted a massive out-migration of young working-age adults to coastal industrial cities. Which of the following best evaluates the primary demographic and economic consequence of this migration stream on the rural source community?

  1. A sharp increase in the rural economic dependency ratio as the proportion of non-working age inhabitants rises relative to the active labor force.Answer
  2. B
    A significant reduction in the rural dependency ratio due to the growing concentration of elderly dependents relative to the departing workforce.
  3. C
    An influx of new agricultural investments prompted by environmental drought acting as a major pull factor drawing young farmers into urban centers.
  4. D
    The rapid conversion of clustered nucleated village layouts into linear settlement patterns along rural farm access roads.

Answer

The primary consequence on the rural source area is a sharp increase in the economic dependency ratio as the proportion of non-working age inhabitants (children and the elderly) increases relative to the remaining productive workforce.
The selective out-migration of young, economically active adults directly reduces the denominator of the working-age population. Consequently, the relative proportion of non-working children and elderly relatives increases, elevating the economic dependency ratio and causing labor shortages in rural agriculture.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the migration stream composition
Selective out-migration primarily removes young adults (economically active age cohort, typically 15–59 years) from the rural origin.
Rural-urban drift in developing regions is demographically selective, attracting young workers seeking urban employment.
2
Evaluate demographic ratio shifts
The proportion of dependents (individuals aged under 15 and over 60) relative to the active labor force increases.
The dependency ratio formula is defined as \(\frac{\text{Pop}_{<15} + \text{Pop}_{\ge 65}}{\text{Pop}_{15-64}} \times 100\). A shrinking denominator elevates the overall ratio.
3
Determine economic impacts on the source area
Rural agricultural productivity declines due to labor shortages, while social burden on remaining workers rises.
Fewer working hands must support a higher relative number of dependents, leading to economic strain on the rural origin.

Key Concept

Demographic Effects of Rural-Urban Migration on Source Regions
Estimated Time:2m 0s
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Topics

Population Migration Causes and Effects

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