The enticement of cities: the health and economic challenges and opportunities of rural migration

Education and employment status are positively correlated with improved health. As the world continues to undergo urbanization and rural migrants continue to travel to cities to pursue education and employment opportunities. However, no matter how much a city has to offer, access to these opportunities is not always available to citizens. Many migrants are forced to seek refuge in slums, which increases the risk of communicable diseases, lack of sanitation, and an increase in social concerns, and offset the potential health inputs of education and employment opportunities. Political and economic intervention that focus on national economic growth and national development policies specific to urbanization can be implemented as a way to ease the urbanization process and to decrease health inequalities of rural migrants. As evidenced by South Korea’s rapid urbanization process, through strategic and well thought out planning and investing in citizens through providing education and employment opportunities, healthier society can be created. Producing a stronger workforce is the foundation for a flourishing countr