IELTS Writing Task 2: People leaving the countryside

Across the world, young adults are moving from villages and small towns to large cities in search of work and a more exciting life. This movement creates serious problems both for the places they leave and for the cities they move to. This essay will describe these problems and propose some solutions.

The effects on the countryside are the most obvious. When the young leave, the population that remains is mainly elderly. There are fewer people to work on farms, so land may be abandoned, and local shops, schools and bus services close because there are not enough users. Older residents can be left without family nearby to care for them. At the same time, cities struggle to absorb the newcomers. Housing becomes more expensive and overcrowded, public transport is stretched, and many new arrivals can only find low-paid work, which leads to disappointment.

The most effective solution is to give young people reasons to stay. Governments could offer tax reductions or cheap loans to companies that open offices and factories in rural areas, and to young farmers who want to start a business. Fast internet connections are particularly important, because they allow people to work for a city employer while living in a village. Improving rural services would also help: a region with a good hospital, a secondary school and reliable transport is far more attractive to families.

For those who still wish to move, the pressure on big cities could be reduced by developing medium-sized towns. If universities and government departments were located in regional centres instead of the capital, young people could find opportunities closer to home.

In conclusion, migration to cities empties the countryside and overloads urban areas. Creating jobs, improving internet access and investing in services outside the major cities would make the choice to stay a realistic one.