Objective
This proposal addresses Area 4.6 of the call (Rural Development), in particular Area 4.6.2 focusing on the changes underway in rural areas in Europe. It involves an analysis of the facors underlying the differential development of rural areas in Europe, using eight pairs of study areas (i.e. 16 study areas in all) each pair chosen from two contrasting regions selected from within four participating countries, Germany, Greece, Sweden and the UK The objectives of the proposed research are:
(i) to identify and measure the significant economic changes taking place in different types of rural area.
(ii) to develop from the literature on regional convergence and divergence a set of explanatory variables whichcan be measured directy or indirectly in rural areas at NUTS m or below, dealing with both 'tangible' and 'intangible' factors, and to generate hypotheses which link these variables to economic performance of the study areas.
(iii) to explain the differences between 'successful' and 'unsuccessful' rural economic performance over time by analysis of these 'tangible' and 'intangible' variables.
(iv) to assess the ways in which contextual factors (national, regional) influence processes of differentiation in development trajectories through comparative analysis.
(v) hence to improve our understanding of the factors underlying differential performance of rural areas in contemporary western Europe, and their relative importance in different contexts.
(vi) to provide improved guidance for strategic programming of public intervention in different types of rural area and for policy and practice in general.
(vii) to propose new data for the analysis of rural development processes at local levels which can be applied at EU level, and transfer experience in the methods of collecting such data in different countries, contexts, and statistical levels.
The proposed research is important for the development of policy and practice as well as for the development of theory. The differentiated nature of rural areas was recognised in the paper on 'the future of rural society' (EC, 1988), in the Cork Declaration (EC, 1996), and in the Cohesion Report (1996). Better understanding of the key variables which inf¡uence rural success or failure will lead to better policy, and better local practice. It will also improve the theoretical framework within which local changes, divergence and convergence, can be situated and understood.
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
AB24 3LR ABERDEEN
United Kingdom