This paper investigates the current demographic crisis in Bulgarian rural areas and potential solutions for overcoming it. The future development of rural areas in Bulgaria will depend on the practical implementation of the National Plan for Rural Development – NPRD (2007-2013)....

The main directions of rural policy aimed at improving the quality of life and stimulate economic activities in the EU are: improving and developing infrastructure; diversification and development of economic activities; training and education of the population in rural areas. Indicators used for...

Rural development processes can be interpreted as the result of an increasingly complex interplay of different driving forces. The 'rural web' concept, developed recently as a theoretical framework, emerges as the intersection of six inter-related dimensions (endogenity, novelty production,...

Since the beginning of transition, rural economies in Central and Eastern Europe have undergone a strong restructuring with increasing urban-rural disparities. The analysis of the rural situation on the basis of GDP p.c., investments, unemployment and sectoral structures leads to the question on...

By this study, the intention of the authors is to analyze the state of the agriculture in two New European Union (EU) Member States, the influence of the European structural funds, the perspectives of the rural economies in the frame of the new European regulations and the tendencies in rural...

Resources addressed in this work are human and social ones. They are integral parts of the institutional arrangements domain from the rural web concept. Institutional arrangements are drawn parallel with New Institutional Economics (NIE) in this study. Inside NIE the paper focuses on Social...

A Long-term Vision of spatial (regional and territorial) development of Slovakia is an integral part of broader work about A Long-term vision of the Slovak society development (up to year 2030). The scientific authorities prepared this official material as a special product for Slovak...

The state of rural social infrastructure and its impact on the quality of life and functioning of rural communities are traditionally seen as marginal to the “mainstream†development activities. The low quality of social infrastructure is, however, an important factor in the...

LEADER started as a Community Initiative in the European Union in 1991 and has had positive results in rural development in the EU-15, especially on social capital. It is important to emphasise that rural development plans must be prepared at the local level, and LEADER funds are available only...

The Austrian Rural Development Programme of the current period 2000 - 2006 includes the measure "Vocational training" to improve the qualification of persons involved in agriculture and forestry as well as to help them convert their operations to other uses. The educational measures play an...