Synopsis Rural-urban disparities, especially in developing countries, have for long been a major concern for policymakers. The disparities can be seen in all spheres of human life—economic and social. Income inequalities, lack of employment opportunities, lack of infrastructure and civic amenities, inadequate access to education, healthcare and other basic services are some of the major areas where rural areas lag behind urban, globalization and the spread of the consumerist culture has further deepened these disparities, visible in the affluence and glitz of urban areas, which stand in stark contrast to the poverty, deprivation and squalor that characterizes the rural landscape in developing countries.This book explores the rural-urban dynamics from both the divide and the linkage perspectives, and looks at ways in which the rural-urban gap can be bridged.