Which of the following describes the growth of businesses and jobs that attract people to urban areas?

The growth of businesses and jobs that attract people to urban areas is best described by economic development. This concept encompasses a range of activities that improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community, typically through job creation, increased income, and improved infrastructure. In urban areas, economic development often leads to the establishment of new businesses, attracting individuals who seek employment opportunities and better living standards.

Urbanisation, on the other hand, refers specifically to the increasing population density in urban areas as individuals move from rural to urban settings. While urbanisation can result from economic development, the term does not explicitly capture the growth of businesses or jobs.

Rural decline pertains to the decreasing population and economic activity in rural areas, which is often a consequence of urbanisation and economic development rather than a descriptor for attracting people to cities.

Urban sprawl describes the spread of urban developments into rural spaces, which can be a byproduct of economic expansion but does not focus directly on the initial attraction of businesses and jobs to urban areas. Thus, economic development stands out as the most accurate term to describe the process of creating jobs and businesses that draw people to urban environments.