Preface

The population of nations of the Third World designated as less developed is predominately rural and will probably remain so for the next several decades. Yet, much is happening to transform the social, economic, and demographic structure of these places. Migration is among the many processes changing the rural areas of less developed nations. Some people are moving out of rural areas to urban places; others are moving from one rural area to another. Sometimes the move is permanent; often it is not. Some movement is based on the decision of individuals and their families in response to social and economic opportunities. Increasingly, governments have developed direct and indirect policies and programs to sponsor, subsidize, and direct migration. Movements within and between countries are an integral feature of the changing social structure of less developed nations.