Agrarian transition refers to the shift from agricultural rural economies to industrial and service-based urban economies; it is typically associated with

• A. development and urbanization
• B. a move from urban to rural areas
• C. a temporary decline in urban populations
• D. a return to subsistence farming

Answer: (A)

Agrarian transition happens when an economy shifts labor and production from farming in rural areas to industrial and service activities in urban areas. This change is usually tied to development because industrialization and rising incomes create new job opportunities, infrastructure, and institutions that support a modern economy. As farms adopt productive technologies, fewer workers are needed in agriculture, so people move to cities to work in factories, offices, and services. That movement fuels urbanization—the growth and concentration of the population in urban areas—which is a hallmark of this transition. The other possibilities don’t fit the pattern: moving from cities to rural areas, a temporary decline in urban populations, or returning to subsistence farming would not reflect the long-term shift toward urban, industrial, and service-based economies.