Rural America's “brain drain”: How student debt is emptying small towns
Is student debt the culprit? Or is it just the greater trend of urbanization that has been happening for literally centuries? I&#x27;m not using the word literally as a means of emphasis here, the globe has on average been becoming more urban since the agricultural revolution.<p>Overall, population centers are more economically productive. You have more people collected in a smaller space, so workers and industries can cooperate more effectively. Countries&#x27; levels of urbanization have and, to varying degrees, continue to have a strong correlation with their level of wealth. You have more goods and services available within a smaller area. Workers have more job opportunities.<p>Urbanization also has good environmental effects. It makes cleaner modes of transport, like trains and subways, much more feasible. Power and water has to travel a smaller distance (except for when people put cities in dumb locations with regards to water distribution, like LA). Dense countries tend to have a smaller carbon footprint compared to more rural countries with the same standards of living.<p>Basically, there&#x27;s a lot to be gained by populations shifting from rural areas to the city. I&#x27;m not so sure why many are so eager to lament a shrinking rural population.