Part 3/9:
The surprise of this revelation lies in its implications for identity politics, especially as self-identified rurality has become an influential element in current societal dynamics. A notable study indicated that around 22% of individuals living in metropolitan regions (coded as Ruka 1, which denotes a metropolitan area core) identify as rural. Conversely, this number skyrockets to around 80% among those in Ruka 2 areas—small, peripheral cities closely linked to larger metropolitan areas for jobs and cultural amenities.