However, the desired level of development could not be achieved on a local, regional and national level in
rural areas, and developmental differences between regions were not resolved across Turkey as a whole. As a
result, residents of rural areas began leaving their villages and immigrated to Bursa and its environs, in order to
access the more plentiful job opportunities and better living conditions. Between 1970 and 2008, the study area
experienced mass urban immigration from both its own rural areas as well as from other regions of Turkey.
During this period, the most intensive immigration to Bursa came from its own rural areas, particularly from the
highland counties (Harmancik, Keles and Orhaneli) and from the Black Sea and East Anatolian regions of
Turkey.