Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.(Answer in 150 words).

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Introduction

Migration in developing countries is largely driven by uneven development. Large cities act as major centers of opportunity, attracting more migrants compared to smaller towns.

Body

1. Reasons for Attraction of Large Cities

• Employment opportunities: Metropolitan areas offer diverse jobs in industry, services, and the informal sector.

• Better infrastructure: Availability of transport, healthcare, education, and communication facilities.

• Higher wages: Compared to rural areas and small towns, cities offer relatively better income prospects.

• Urban pull factors: Lifestyle aspirations, exposure, and perceived better quality of life.

2. Conditions in Developing Countries

• Rural distress: Poverty, unemployment, land fragmentation, and agrarian crises push people towards cities.

• Regional imbalance: Uneven industrial and economic development concentrates opportunities in large cities.

• Informal sector growth: Cities provide survival opportunities even for unskilled migrants.

• Social networks: Caste, kinship, and community ties help migrants settle in urban areas.

Conclusion

Thus, large cities in developing countries emerge as magnets of migration due to strong pull factors and rural push factors, though this often leads to challenges like urban congestion and slums.

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