Differences in population size, composition and function of the village in rural areas in the more economically developed world and the less economically developed world.

Essay by KeirHigh School, 12th grade March 2006

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For this essay I will use two specific case studies for each, a LEDC and MEDC.

LEDC - Huanli, China; MEDC - Gaienhofen, Germany

Huanli

- The main function of the village focuses on primary industry, namely argiculture

- Huanli is a village composed of mainly poor and old people.

- Most young people have left for the cities, sending money back home. Generally this has caused a reduction of the birth rate as more families are founded in the cities.

- Huanli as been as small village in history and still is now. Currently is following a trend of regression, decreasing in its size and population.

- Huanli's economic impact on China is insignificant. The area doesn't generate great amount of capital which could be either invested into the village or paid as taxes to the government.

- Size of settlement is limited to the surrounding mountains in a semi-valley like location.

Further expansion is not possible, also due to the encroaching desert.

- This rural area, as so many others in China is being neglected by the government (see Jiang Zemin's speech to congress in March 2006) in terms of financial support and reforms. This lack of support has a strong influence on the push and pull factors for Huanli, affecting all sexes and age groups in terms of migration.

- Little natural vegetation covers the ground to prevent soil erosion.

- Due to its location in a valley dry and cold winds that arrive from the Gobi dessert are funneled, blowing with a great velocity over the ground.

- The village in threatened to be desertified by the approaching desert. The area receives less than 350 mm of rainfall per year, classifying the region as a semi-arid environment, if not even desert.

Gaienhofen

- Area was composed...