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An alternative policy approach to rural development in regions facing population decline

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  • Thomas Dax
  • Michael Fischer

Abstract

Many rural regions in Europe used to be characterized by weak economic performance and negative population development. While in a long-term perspective this is not any more valid for large parts of Western Europe, a number of rural regions face persistent population decline. By analysing the case of Austria, where approximately one-third of rural areas have experienced such negative population change over the past decades, this paper will examine the impact on economic performance, income levels and well-being patterns. Addressing the crucial and persistent obstacles to positive population trends, new theoretical approaches and perspectives are discussed for overcoming limitations in development. Future approaches for regional development have to go beyond strategies for targeting economic growth, but have to address issues of local participation, social innovation and establishing trust as preconditions to effectively impact well-being dimensions. Such a mobilization effort would be the result of a comprehensive social transition process which would foster an altered narrative for these rural regions compared to the current and predominant focus on compensation and growth policies. Despite strong interlinkages with other regions and actors, the needs of local people would be central and both would be a cornerstone for social innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Dax & Michael Fischer, 2018. "An alternative policy approach to rural development in regions facing population decline," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(2), pages 297-315, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eurpls:v:26:y:2018:i:2:p:297-315
    DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2017.1361596
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    Cited by:

    1. Alonso Gema Cárdenas & Masot Ana Nieto, 2020. "Rural Space Governance in Extremadura (SW Spain). Analysis of the Leader Approach," European Countryside, Sciendo, vol. 12(4), pages 448-468, December.
    2. Agnes Matoga, 2022. "Changing Governance Processes to Make Way for Civic Involvement: The Case of Gebrookerbos in Heerlen, Netherlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Barbara Wieliczko & Agnieszka Kurdyś-Kujawska & Zbigniew Floriańczyk, 2021. "EU Rural Policy’s Capacity to Facilitate a Just Sustainability Transition of the Rural Areas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    4. Baxter, Jamie Scott & Chatzichristos, Georgios & Christmann, Gabriela & Hennebry, Barraí & Kovanen, Sunna & Novikova, Marina & Olmedo, Lucas & Stoustrup, Sune W. & van Twuijver, Mara & Umantseva, Anna, 2020. "Social Enterprises in Structurally Weak Rural Regions: Innovative Troubleshooters in Action. Handbook for Practitioners," IRS Dialog 6/2020, Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space (IRS).
    5. Nigel R Curry, 2021. "The rural social economy, community food hubs and the market," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 36(7-8), pages 569-588, November.
    6. De Toni, Andrea & Vizzarri, Matteo & Di Febbraro, Mirko & Lasserre, Bruno & Noguera, Joan & Di Martino, Paolo, 2021. "Aligning Inner Peripheries with rural development in Italy: Territorial evidence to support policy contextualization," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Šťastná Milada & Vaishar Antonín, 2023. "Opportunities for the Development of a Borderland Rural Territory: A Case Study of the Hlučín Region," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 42(4), pages 91-106, December.
    8. Ana Nieto Masot & Gema Cárdenas Alonso & Luis Manuel Costa Moreno, 2019. "Principal Component Analysis of the LEADER Approach (2007–2013) in South Western Europe (Extremadura and Alentejo)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-15, July.
    9. Novikova Marina & de Fátima Ferreiro Maria & Stryjakiewicz Tadeusz, 2020. "Local Development Initiatives as Promoters of Social Innovation: Evidence from Two European Rural Regions," Quaestiones Geographicae, Sciendo, vol. 39(2), pages 43-53, June.
    10. Zang, Yuzhu & Liu, Yansui & Yang, Yuanyuan & Woods, Michael & Fois, Francesca, 2020. "Rural decline or restructuring? Implications for sustainability transitions in rural China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    11. Bram van Vulpen, 2020. "Rethinking The Regional Bounds Of Justice: A Scoping Review Of Spatial Justice In Eu Regions," Romanian Journal of Regional Science, Romanian Regional Science Association, vol. 14(2), pages 5-34, DECEMBER.
    12. Anna-Theresa Renner & Dieter Pennerstorfer, 2020. "Modeling inter-regional patient mobility: Does distance go far enough?," Economics working papers 2020-04, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
    13. Quito, Byron & del Río-Rama, María de la Cruz & Álvarez- García, José & Bekun, Festus Victor, 2023. "Spatiotemporal influencing factors of energy efficiency in 43 european countries: A spatial econometric analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    14. Vaquero-Piñeiro, Cristina, 2021. "The long-term fortunes of territories as a route for agri-food policies: evidence from Geographical Indications," Bio-based and Applied Economics Journal, Italian Association of Agricultural and Applied Economics (AIEAA), vol. 10(2), April.
    15. Karim Bekhtiar, 2022. "Robotization, Internal Migration and Rural Depopulation in Austria," Economics working papers 2022-07, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
    16. Florian Ahlmeyer & Kati Volgmann, 2023. "What Can We Expect for the Development of Rural Areas in Europe?—Trends of the Last Decade and Their Opportunities for Rural Regeneration," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    17. Gema Cárdenas Alonso & Ana Nieto Masot, 2022. "Mapping the Optimal Rural Areas to Invest in through the LEADER Approach: Case Study—Extremadura (SW Spain)," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-20, July.
    18. Kusio, Tomasz & Kudełko, Joanna & Borges, Alexandra & Delic, Anamarija & Stroila, Iulia, 2022. "Are there any differences in rural development challenges within European countries? Social and economic contexts from EU rural leaders," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 25(5), December.
    19. Franziska Lengerer & Tialda Haartsen & Annett Steinführer, 2023. "Exploring Justice in the Process of Redesigning Local Development Strategies for LEADER: Representation, Distribution, and Recognition," World, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-24, January.
    20. Lulu Zhou & Li Wang & Kangchuan Su & Guohua Bi & Hongji Chen & Xiaoyu Liu & Qingyuan Yang, 2022. "Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Rural Restructuring Evolution and Driving Forces in Mountainous and Hilly Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-24, June.
    21. Blanca Victoria Zirufo-Briones & Norberto Pelegrín-Entenza, 2023. "Model for the Strategic Governance of the Integrated and Sustainable Local Development of the Portoviejo Canton in the Province of Manabí, Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, September.
    22. De Toni, Andrea & Di Martino, Paolo & Dax, Thomas, 2021. "Location matters. Are science and policy arenas facing the Inner Peripheries challenges in EU?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).

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