Many cities of the world are facing an unexpected phenomenon: urban exodus. No longer constrained by a localized workspace, an increasing number of freelancers are enjoying mobility, and ultimately leaving stressful and polluted cities.

After the rural exodus, following the industrial revolution, are we now facing a digital urban exodus. Perhaps this movement is now following the digital revolution?

Since the 90’s, the rural population in France finally increased, after seeing a diminishing population for the past 150 years. The rise, which remains rather modest, regards more the outer fringes of cities, rather than true urban areas. But it has seemingly brought an end to this inevitable process.

More than one out of 2 Franciliens would like to leave the Ile-de-France region. Half of them would like to live in a small or medium sized city (less than 100.000 inhabitants), 26% in the country and 18% in a big city. This phenomenon conceals different realities which, according to me, are insufficient when attempting to conclude a real urban exodus. Price increases in central urban areas, leads those to move towards the peripheral areas of cities, resulting in the closing of urban industrial sites. It also leads to an increase of those retiring in rural areas, or individuals who leave cities due to pollution and insecurity.

At the moment, it was not sufficient to just to observe movement from central to peripheral areas, when attempting to conclude a real urban exodus. The primary basis for rural exodus was economical and technological. After the industrial revolution, the need for a strong workforce increased. Salaries were dropping rapidly in the agricultural field, and exploding in the industry. To subsist, the farming population has moved toward to industrial sites, resulting in a high demand for said workforce.

Similarly, in order to know whether we are really facing a urban exodus, we have to ask ourselves these questions: are rural areas becoming economically more attractive than cities? What are the factors helping us to understand the foundation and the features of this emerging phenomenon? Of course, the truth is not often simple, and what follows does not pretend to apply as a general rule.

A digital urban exodus

It is almost commonplace to say that digital technology emphasizes teleworking and mobility. However, this is a central element to understanding urban exodus. More importantly, the digital revolution should be assessed as a real revolution and not just as a practical tool.  We could first state that digital technologies allow us to work from any place. Technology now allows all workers to accomplish tasks with a computer or a cell phone, when just 15 years ago, it would have required a costly and heavy set of tools. In many activities, the internet provides people with access to millions of individual markets, whether you are living in Paris or deep within Ardèche…

Even in fields, which are not directly related to the knowledge-based economy, means of production are distributed. There are plenty of examples, such as the 3D printers, or other experiences relating to distributed production. Digital technologies allow a better use and accessibility of common goods through new collaboratives practices.

A second approach would be to observe, beyond technics, what digital technology could bring to open the boundaries of what is actually possible. Neolithic and industrial revolutions started with innovations aimed to make life easier. But eventually they started changing everything, such as our relationship to space, to others and to ourselves. They redesigned our thinking software.

In the same way as the industrial revolution moved the source of allowable values from agriculture to industry, the digital revolution has moved the values of industries toward intellectual production.

However, intellectual production is not dependent on complex material infrastructures that we usually find in cities, but it relies more on a ecosystem, whether it is urban, rural or even virtual. The economic advantage of cities, which was decisive during the industrial era, now has a lesser meaning.

An urban exodus led by self-employees

It would not have been an urban exodus, as long as rural areas could not be considered as real attractive economic areas. But, by saying “attractive economic areas”, I do not mean a transposition of successful models during the industrial era. The urban exodus should not be viewed with the same outdated ideas. Rural areas have never been adapted by people who had a salaried position.

The rural exodus mostly concerns independent workers (farmers and artisans), who have left their work to become employees. It is a fair bet to make that the urban exodus would be the inverse of this phenomenon.

There is a strong correlation between the urbanisation movement in the Western world and the number of freelancers.

In 1830, in a still rural France, there were around 50% of self-employed workers. In 1930, they were only 33%. After a stabilization, due to the Great Depression (which was basically a crisis of industrial Capitalism) and the World War, the number of self-employed workers fell again. In 2007, they represented less than 10% of the working age population, as shown in this excellent report titled: “The Self-employed Worker, a Figure of the XXIst Century”. The correlation between industrialisation, rural exodus and self-employment is strong.

However the number of self-employed workers is still increasing in all industrial countries. In France, there were 9.6% in 2007 and 11.6% by the end of 2012. Also, the number of freelancers are at an estimated 35 million in the US and 27 million in Europe. This rapid increase is also followed by a reevaluation of freelancers when compared to stable employees. Thus, the urban exodus will be mainly led by the freelancers.

Rural areas are broad and sparsely populated areas. They require autonomy and versatility, which are less compatible with the salaried status. They are more suitable for independent workers who are able to manage their daily schedule and travels.

In the agricultural world, it is impossible to assess work in terms of hourly productivity according to a specific time table. What matters then, is to be available during some key moments, such as crops, weather conditions, opportunity or incidents. This quality is essential for freelancers and entrepreneurs within knowledge based economy. Self-employed people can telework much easier than traditionally employed worker, since they do not need to be localized in an area where the workforce is available. The self-employed worker is mobile and could truly enjoy the low costs of rural areas.

Emmanuelle Pometan, founder of Agence Nouvelle Culture, left Paris 6 months ago to settle in the region of  la Drôme where she is working most of the time. She only goes to Paris three times a month. “I did not lose any clients since I settled outside of Paris, and I did not miss any meetings. On the other hand, my company’s image did not suffer, in fact my clients find my workstyle rather modern.”

From functional space to space as an ecosystem

People who says that localized work is dead are actually working in an industry defined by a localisation: Silicon Valley. That means that space still matters. It is one of the most  important factors for change, said Jim Keane, Vice-CEO of Steelcase.

Our lifestyles are inevitably related to our means of subsistence, and this means evolving over time with technological developments. Historically, populations started settling in one place  ever since the neolithic revolution. The change from a hunter-gatherer, to a settled way of life, has considerably changed social relations and lifestyles.

Because sedentary life needs space, it calls for an extensive settlement allocated over large territories, which means an important rural population. Industrial revolution does not tie individuals to the land anymore, but rather to factories and mines, which started building new cities based on an intensive development model. These new industrial cities are no longer considered to be frictions or commercial exchange areas, but rather the infrastructure needed for production.

The functional city model developed by Le Corbusier, which became the predominant model during post-War reconstruction, impacted cities by dividing them into functions: life, work, leisure and transportation infrastructures. Housing estates, business centers, and shopping centers have been created according to this functionalist mindset.

By thinning urban functions and dividing cities, these models were unable to keep all positive aspects, while it was formerly the role of cities. It will probably also be the role of the cities within the digital revolution, because their productivity highly relies on positive externalities, captation and dissemination. The predominant cities of the digital revolution will be able to to generate meetings in a authentic and friendly exchange, creating serendipity, social links, and a sense of trust and belonging. If you are interested in digital cities, I wrote another article entitled: “Digital City, Ideal City”.

The digital revolution does not abort the role of space, but instead it transforms the space. It makes a new meaning and a new use. This new use of space exists in an ecosystem rather than in an infrastructure.

It’s a framework favoring some distinct activities, since an ecosystem is structured by a spectrum of parameters found in permanent interaction.

Thus the urban exodus will be sustained by multifunctional spaces. A concrete example found in rural areas is the multifunctionality of some shops, like when a bakery can also provide money withdrawal or tourist information. This is an example of ecosystemic approaches that have been successful.

Xavier de Mazenod from Zevillage underlines the importance of multi-service locations in rural areas. “The idea that one place is equal to one function does not work in rural area.” The telecenter of Boitron welcomes various activities, such informatic coaching, parties or even elections. With the digital revolution, the environment replaces the infrastructure and the project replaces the profession. Each activity may correspond to different environments, and with this objective, one city offers an ecosystem favorable to many activities. Soon it becomes easier to find clients, partners, to promote its activity, and to access information…

The countryside allows for better concentration and productivity. As an example, Emmanuelle really appreciates working alternately in rural and urban areas. Today is it a better economical choice for digital workers to take advantage of this diverse ecosystem according to its needs? It will probably be a major issue for the future of digital workers, typing in the different environments that they move through, which is necessary to carry out their activities.