Issue Connecting hub-city growth to depopulating farming, fishing and mountain villages

Summary

One major side effect of the first wave was that innovation city growth accelerated the decline of surrounding rural areas, as population flowed out of nearby mother cities and villages. The report argues that the second wave must reduce this structural harm and design links through which hub growth revitalises rural areas at risk of extinction. First, relocated agencies could be institutionally required to run linkage projects with rural communities in their region, pairing agriculture, fisheries and forestry agencies with those sectors and reflecting medical and welfare agencies' services to vulnerable areas in their evaluations. Second, flagship national universities could run field research and practicum programmes linking related departments with nearby villages, offering students rural career paths. Third, remote service infrastructure such as telemedicine platforms, one-stop administrative windows and online education could be built in stages so rural residents can use hub services without travelling.