How Long Are We Going to Need That City?
This glimpse of the future was crafted by: Luke Beirne
At an altitude of 4 830 metres on the Everest Base Camp Trek, guess what you can find? WiFi access. Which means you can work, Facetime your loved ones, or Instagram your Everest
selfies. By dispensing with the need for a physical presence, technology has made it possible to communicate, share and
work remotely in some of the most isolated locations on Earth.
For centuries, people have gravitated towards the bright lights and busy streets of cities to make their mark on the world. But what if the skylines of London, New York, Tokyo, Sydney and Johannesburg made way
for the open landscapes, quiet streets and chirping birds found in the rural towns of their countries?
As technology advances and the nature of workplaces and jobs radically change, and fewer jobs require a physical
presence, the need for people to continue flocking to cities could diminish. Could we see the start of
counter-urbanisation with the world’s population increasingly living rurally instead of in cities? Could this be the
answer to the monumental task faced by cities under enormous pressure from population growth, urbanisation and climate
change?
The concrete jungle’s becoming crowded
By 2050, the world’s urban population is projected to grow by 2.5 billion, with 68% of the population living in cities (an increase from 55% in 2018). The pace of growth is
strongest in developing countries with the United Nations estimating there could be 43 megacities (up from 31 today)
with more than 10-million inhabitants – mostly in developing countries – by 2030. Global migration is further
contributing to the growth of cities, as new migrants prefer to live in the metropolises of their newly-found countries as opposed to rural areas. This
leads to cities even in relatively remote countries like Australia buckling under the strain of stretched
infrastructure.
People gravitate to cities for the simple reason that they need to earn a livelihood. Early human civilisations such as
the Sumer and the Ancient Egyptians centred around fertile land. Fertile land meant more food, which meant more people,
more trade opportunities and more demand for additional goods and generally more individual wealth, which created a
drawcard for others. As this cycle fed itself, cities appeared and thrived.
But, with advanced economies reliant on services, people’s livelihoods are no longer linked to the land or the
production of goods, but rather to managing the underpinning transactions. In the future, say 50 years from now, why
wouldn’t people gravitate to rural areas where there is more room, when it is perfectly feasible through technology to manage all those transactions remotely?
Technology will further break down physical barriers
There are many practicalities of city living that would need to be adapted for true counter-urbanisation – and
technology will be taking centre stage to make this happen.
During the World Economic Forum in January this year, Last Mile Health and Living Goods announced an initiative aimed at reinventing primary healthcare by leveraging the disruptive power of mobile technology. The $50-million
collaboration will see 50 000 community health workers delivering quality door-to-door care to 35-million people –
whether they live in a busy downtown area or a remote agricultural property. The potential benefits are staggering: the
life-saving healthcare will save lives, it will save money, create jobs, empower women, prevent pandemics and strengthen
health systems.
As healthcare moves towards a more personalised offering, could this one day remove the larger efficient-but-impersonal general
practice health clinics we find in cities? What will it mean for the scale of tertiary teaching hospitals – they’ll
still be necessary, but could they be smaller and more specialised? And, could we see this kind of localised, digitised
offering parlayed into other areas? Schools and universities have operated virtually for decades and are only expected to expand – further reducing the reliance on bricks and mortar
structures, which people feel they need to visit physically to obtain the service.
Automation means opportunity – not just obliteration
It’s indisputable. Automation is increasingly able to complete more tertiary sector tasks, deliver more primary and
secondary sector materials and manufacturing, therefore removing the need for factory and plant-based workers. But more
jobs are being created too.
According to a Centre for European Economic Research (ZEW) study, digital transformation is actually creating more jobs than it is destroying; therefore, increasing the need for people
with the requisite skills sets.
Coming from an organisation that established its original robotic farm over 15 years ago, Jenny Jago, strategy and
investment portfolio manager for DairyNZ, says that by getting a younger generation engaged with the technology, they have an opportunity to see the career
potential that underlies it.
And it’s true. In fact, new communications technologies and digitalisation have paved the way for the gig economy –
temporary jobs which give people flexibility on where to live. It’s a win-win, with companies cutting costs by hiring
freelancers as needed and people now having the choice to escape crowded, expensive cities to venture beyond the
metropolis.
Web-based platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr and TaskRabbit have created a platform for businesses and independent
professionals to connect and collaborate remotely. About three million jobs are posted annually on Upwork – with an
estimated value of $1 billion. The opportunity to not just earn, but build a legitimate, rewarding and interesting
career, while working remotely, is very real.
Developing world gains
The developing world has one major advantage to technology that the first world doesn’t; the opportunity to leapfrog development and move straight to the latest innovations without having to first ‘disassemble’ old infrastructure and systems, and
be nimble.
In one year, India moved from its 155th position in mobile broadband penetration to the world’s largest mobile
data-consuming nation. With no need to work around decades of telephone lines, fixed phone company monopolies and
customer reluctance to move, the country’s telecoms are strengthening their fibre optic capacity in response to the
massive demand.
Evolving infrastructure in rural areas means developing countries can thrive too. In fact, an initiative called the ‘Project Loon‘ has massive potential to improve education in developing countries. Through this project, a network of balloons will
be launched to travel to the edge of space and make it possible for rural communities and remote areas across the globe
to have internet access and connect with the world.
Social connections are evolving
Cities indeed bring communities together as do rural communities. There’s a road in a small town in England called “The
Street” – that’s how small the town is. However, as is often the case with small villages, locals are more strongly
connected and engaged with each other’s lives than in much larger cities. The pub, the bingo hall, the soccer field, the
shops on the main street, all remain as focal points of community life.
The spread of internet connection in third world countries and rise of social networks means online communities flourish
even in the most secluded places. While digital relationships can never replace face-to-face interaction, a person’s remote location no longer forces them into isolation.
Driving renewal at a local level can make a meaningful impact in smaller cities and rural areas. Jeremy Nowak, co-author
of The New Localism, believes that the “right workforce qualities and civic strategies can reposition the value of rural
workers”.
In South Africa, the government has put its energies into achieving economic transformation by focusing on its rural and
township economies. Through collaborative partnerships with the private sector and public-benefit organisations, the
government is creating jobs for youth, empowering local businesses and pushing for more inclusive growth. While it’s
still in its early days, the shift in focus could see more innovation in stimulating rural economies.
Bridging global and rural areas
Counter-urbanisation might just be the way forward for both developed and developing countries to create sustainable
solutions that take the pressure off cities, while also improving the lives of their citizens. But, for it to work,
there has to be an emphasis on collaboration and strong partnerships. Partnerships aimed at strengthening communications
networks and rolling out new technologies to bridge the divide between the global village and rural areas, and cementing
economic, social and environmental ties.
With disruption and technology moving at an exponential rate, we’ll also need to check our rigid perspectives on what
constitutes work at the (hypothetical) door and be agile to the changing nature of work.
It might seem like a far-fetched idea – but, in an age when mankind is looking to start a colony on Mars, is it really?
Aurecon’s award-winning blog, Just Imagine provides a glimpse into the future for curious readers, exploring ideas that are probable, possible and for the
imagination. This post originally appeared on Aurecon’s Just Imagine blog. Get access to the latest blog posts as soon as they are published by subscribing to the blog.
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