Continuous selective out-migration of young adults from rural farming communities to major urban industrial hubs primarily affects the demographic structure of the sending region. Which of the following consequences is directly observed in the rural area of origin?
- An increase in the overall dependency ratio due to a higher proportion of elderly and children remainingAnswer
- BA reduction in the economic dependency ratio resulting from a contraction in the non-working population
- CAn influx of urban industrial amenities acting as a primary pull factor for elderly agricultural workers
- DThe rapid conversion of dispersed rural homesteads into dense nucleated urban settlements
Answer
An increase in the overall dependency ratio due to a higher proportion of elderly and children remaining
Rural-to-urban migration is highly age-selective, primarily pulling young, economically active individuals away from rural communities. As a consequence, the rural origin experiences an increase in its dependency ratio because the remaining population consists disproportionately of dependents—specifically young children and the elderly—supported by fewer local working-age individuals.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Demographic impacts of age-selective migration on source communities