It is a process of shifting from a subsistence system to a more commercialized system.
Urbanization refers to the shift of population from a small, dispersed settlement dominated by agriculture and self-subsistence-based economic activities to denser settlements with commercial and industrial economic activities.
Urbanization is the transition from rural settlement to urban areas where the economic activities are dominated by the industrial and service sectors.
As of the UN report of 2015, “Urbanization generally occurs as a result of one or more of the following processes”.
- Natural population growth of a particular area, which may shift from rural to urban.
- Rural to urban migration.
- Creation of new urban centers strategically.
- Extension of boundaries of the urban area.
- Administrative declaration of an urban area, such as the declaration of new municipalities.
However, in the recent period, urbanization has mainly resulted from migration, which may be from rural to urban internally and external migration. According to the International Organization for Migration 2015, the growth of urban areas in developing countries is mainly due to international migration and remittance income.
So, urbanization and migration are closely related, where the urbanization occurs from rural to urban migration and return of remittance income from abroad, and relocation of their family.
Migration and urbanization are closely related, where migration causes urbanization, and urban centers attract migration. So, there is a bidirectional relationship between migration and urbanization.
The migration occurs due to both push and pull factors. The push factors such as the lack of employment opportunities, lack of health and education facilities, poverty and famine, social discrimination, family pressure, natural disaster, financial fraud, crime,s etc.
Similarly, there are many pull factors of migration such as expectation of a better life, better health, education factors, better quality of life, family and social network, availability of new economic opportunities, better quality of infrastructure, demonstration effect from friends & relatives, etc.
Both the theories and empirical evidence have shown that the rapid urbanization in recent years is due to both internal and external migration. For example, the global urban population was 30% in the 1950s, which was 55% in 2018, and is expected to be 60% in 2030 as per the IOM report.
In the case of Nepal, the proportion of the urban population is also increasing. For example, the urban population was 17% in 2011 BS, which increased by more than 66% in 2078 BS. This trend of urbanization is increasing in Nepal, where studies have shown that the external migration for employment and remittance income is the primary contribution to urbanization.
Though migration and urbanization are increasing globally, there are many issues and challenges related to them. Due to rapid urbanization, the urban center is overcrowded, whereas the rural areas are facing the problem of population decline.
The major issues and challenges related to them are:
- Overpopulation in the urban area
- Increasing pressure on urban infrastructure
- Increase in rental cost in the urban area
- Increase in urban poverty, urban crime, and inequality
- Development and expansion of the slum area in the urban centers
- Increase in unemployment, frustration, and degraded mental well-being.
- Poor health and education services due to their undersupply.
- Increase the government burden in terms of providing urban infrastructure
- Traffic congestion and pollution
- Increasing dependency on urban centers for employees’ goods and services
- Unplanned settlement makes it costly for public services.
Quality of life issues and Challenges:
- Multi-dimensional issue (composite issue)
- Economic well-being, economic opportunities
- Infrastructure, environment
- Psychological, mental well-being
- Family work life, society
Quality of life is a multidimensional and dynamic issue. It is related to economic, social, political, environmental, and psychological factors.
So, the quality of life is said to be improved if the individual, household, or community has improved the economic, social, political, environmental, and psychological well-being, which is the ultimate objective of economic development.
The major issues related to the quality of life are
1. Economic Issues: Economic opportunities such as business opportunities, job opportunities, and investment opportunities.
2. Social Issues: Social discrimination (Equity), social recognition and participation, flexible and transparent social value system, democratic and participatory decision making, mutual respect, culture, religion, language, etc.
3. Political Issues: Political freedom, right to choose your own candidate, political recognition and participation, political stability and governance, and democratic practices in the political system.
4. Environmental Issues: Quality of water, sanitation, quality of air, pollution, greenery, climate change, and global warming.
5. Psychological Issues: Mental health, work-life balance, anxiety and frustration, mental wellness, and happiness.
These are the different aspects of quality of life that directly or indirectly affect. For example, better economic opportunities provide better income and help to improve the quality of life.
Similarly, if the society is more flexible and respects each other without any discrimination, the quality of life is better in such a society.
The political freedom and democratic practices help to secure the political rights, making the quality of life better.
If the environment is clean and fresh at both home and office, it improves the quality of life.
Ultimately, the quality of life depends on the mental well-being, where the individual is not in frustration and able to have a better balance between work and life.