| Author(s) | Qasem Dweikat |
| Affiliation | Associate Professor, Geography Department, Mutah University, Mutah, Jordan |
| Title | Urbanization and Development Strategies in Jordan |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Arts. Volume 14, No 2. (2002/1422) |
| Abstract | Jordan experiences a rapid population growth in its large centers at the expense of rural areas, which has reflected poorly on the services provided to these centers and the agricultural production in the countryside. As a result of this uneven population distribution, economic growth has slowed down. This study investigates the factors which have led to the rapid expansion of the urban centers and the various deleterious consequences resulting from it. It appears that the lack of success of the various government strategies in regional development in the past two decades has been due to the desire of the government to extend economic growth to the various parts of the country rather than investing in areas that are most qualified for development. The study stresses the need for investment in medium-size urban centers so that they become centers of attraction to the labor force and economic investment. This policy, if conducted, may provide a solution to the redistribution of population to avoid congestion and other related problems encountered in large urban centers. |
