Recommended reading on sustainable rural development

Iliopoulos writes:
“The book provides an in-depth analysis of the dynamic inter-relationships between public policies, the market and non-market activities and functions of agriculture and the development of rural areas. It reports the results of an EU-funded, interdisciplinary research project (2005–2008) but goes beyond this endeavor; it sets the ground for future, holistic approaches to the issues examined.[…] The book offers significant insights and policy recommendations. Dealing with the diverse specificities of EU’s rural regions, districts, counties and municipalities poses tremendous challenges to policy-makers. […] Another key finding is that, in designing rural development and agricultural policies, the EU should consider abolishing the ‘Axes’, the laying down of maxima/minima spending by Axis, and the ‘Menu of Measures’ at the EU level, replacing these with much more open integrated development programs for rural regions designed and implemented by local partnerships led by the local (elected) authorities. […]Overall, Towards Sustainable Rural Regions in Europe is a highly suggested reading for policy-makers and scholars interested in rural development and, more generally, rural areas.”

Bryden, J.M., S. Efstratoglou, T. Ferenczi, T. Johnson, K. Knickel, K. Refsgaard, og K.J. Thomson has edited the book and it came out in 2011.

Bryden, Refsgaard and Spissøy’s contribution is a part of the project TOPMARD, financed primarily by EU Research FP6 programme. The project har received additional funding from among others the Norwegian Research Council, and from NILF for funding of the publication of this book

Read the review of the book “Towards Sustainable Rural Regions in Europe”

For more information, please contact Karen Refsgaard

Published: 15.02.2012