What is the new rural paradigm? Its main characteristics are a focus on places rather than sectors and an emphasis on investments rather than subsidies. In an era of reduced agricultural employment, this report highlights the important and diverse challenges facing rural areas, their unused potential, and the inability of sectoral policy to address this. It also provides an overview of the main socio-economic trends affecting rural areas across the OECD. Further, it addresses the governance requirements of the new cross-sectoral approach to rural policy.
Table of contents:
Executive Summary Chapter 1. The State of Rural Regions -Key Points -Introduction -An Increasingly Diverse Rural Landscape -Rural Areas Lag Behind in Aggregate Terms -Rural is Not Synonymous wity Decline -The Heterogeneity of Rural Areas -Conclusion -Notes Chapter 2. Rural Policy: New Approaches -Key Points -Introduction -Trends in Rural Policy -Country Strategies to Integrate Rural Policies and Programmes -Conclusion -Notes Chapter 3. Governance Strategies to Support Rural Policy -Key Points -Introduction -Central Level Governance -Local Level Governance -Vertical Governance Relationships -Conclusion of Priorities for Research TDPC Chairman's Statement -Notes Annex I. Regional Typology Maps Annex II. Factors of Regional Competitiveness Bibliography
