Goats Racing to Cities

In a recent development economics class, we observed trends in and prospects for urbanisation. As I laugh out loud on the push factors  for rural-urban migration in many developing countries, the story of the 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' fit my puzzle.

In the beautiful story, a related set of billy goats could see a meadow green across a bridge, sumptuous to their thirsty minds and hungry bellies. The grass would likely be more nutritious than the brown and tasteless pasture fields they were presently sentenced to, so they thought.

However, in order to get near the new and wonderful pasture, they would have to pass through a bridge manned by a wicked old troll, who lived to gobble up ambitious passerbys. The billy goats took turns at an attempt to cross the bridge, starting with the littlest goat.

Against the odds posed by the wicked and greedy old troll, who laid in wait underneath the bridge, the first two goats argued their way to the other side. Finally, the biggest billy goat dealt decisively with wicked old troll, when he threatened to eat him, kicking him out of existence.

With the wicked and greedy old troll out of the way, the biggest billy goat joined his brothers to chew happily on the new pasture. Afterwards, several other animals without goat-like gumption, could safely pass through the bridge to greener fields. Many thanks to the bravery of their resilient neighbours.

Throughout history, many individuals have taken sweet adventures to break through the cycles of poverty and underdevelopment that characterise rural life. In wild pursuits of better livelihoods, living conditions and opportunities available in cities, many rural dwellers have taken their long trek to freedom. Whatever their trigger belt is, rural-urban migrants seem always convinced they will be better off when they reach their destination. 

The success stories of previous migrants empower the resolve of several other able-bodies in rural environments to abandon 'backwardness' and embrace socio-economic progress. Via sheer brotherliness, demonstration effects and/or learning linkages, streams of rural-urban migrants can evolve with better living standards.

In recent years, countries in Africa and Asia have experienced some of the highest rates of urbanisation. With the new metric set in the 2020 Degree of Urbanisation consultation, development managers now have a universal definition of areas, based on population density, that is useful for international comparisons.

While increased rural-urban migration alongside demographic transition are elements in structural transformation of developing economies, it is vital for us to rethink routes to balanced or near-balanced development. How can we make rural communities viable and sustainable?

To allude to the 'Three Billy Goats Gruff' story, public sector and private sector agents can work to turn the brown and low productive 'grasslands' of rural areas to 'greener meadows' that all categories people, goat-like or otherwise, can seek and find solace in.

With an appropriate mix of social services, finance, enterprise creation, rural diversification strategies and a sustainable dose of political will, the endurance race to rural development can begin.