Rural exodus is the social phenomenon that results in rural population migration to urban centers, with the objective of guaranteeing better living conditions.
The rural exodus is characterized by large-scale migrations, where entire communities leave the countryside in search of new opportunities, especially in large and medium-sized cities.
Therefore, when one or a small group of people migrates from the countryside to the city, it does not constitute a rural exodus. This phenomenon is only characterized when a large number of individuals participate in this migratory process and during the same period of time.
Learn more about the meaning of Exodus.
Causes and consequences of rural exodus
Causes
One of the main reasons that lead to rural exodus in most countries where this phenomenon occurs is the desire for a better quality of life.
In this case, the inhabitants of rural regions suffer from a lack of basic services and infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals and transport facilities, for example.
In addition to these factors, climate crises or natural disasters can also be responsible for the rural exodus from certain locations.
Consequences
As a consequence of the uncontrolled rural exodus, some social problems can arise in urban locations that receive a high number of migrants without being structured for this.
Slums and unstructured neighborhoods arise from the disorganization formed by massive and unexpected migrations.
Usually, with the lack of professional and educational qualification of migrants, they hardly get a place in the the labor market of large cities, causing them to go into underemployment informal work or, in some cases, illegal.
Another consequence of the rural exodus is the increased marginalization, whether spatial or social, as the population increase leads people to seek regions farther away from commercial centers to settle down.
To avoid these social crises, it is necessary to apply public policies that help investment in rural activities, as well as in the production of small and medium-sized rural producers, in addition to ensuring a basic quality infrastructure in these regions (hospitals, schools, etc).
know more about Slum and Underemployment.
rural exodus in Brazil
The apex of the rural exodus in Brazil took place during the second half of the 20th century, with the growth of cities thanks to the increase in industrialization and the development of new technologies.
In the government of President Juscelino Kubitschek (JK), Brazil experienced a boom in industrial and urban development, with the opening of several multinationals in the Southeast and South regions of the country, predominantly.
As a result, many people left other regions (mainly the Northeast) hoping to get good job opportunities in growing urban centers.
The construction of Brasília was another major milestone in the Brazilian rural exodus, as it also attracted many individuals from the North and Northeast regions.
urban exodus
The urban exodus is the process contrary to rural exodus, as it is characterized by mass migration from large urban centers to rural or interior areas.
This phenomenon began to emerge in the mid-1990s, driven by the feeling of insecurity and the high cost of living in large cities.
See also the meaning of Urbanization.