Economic Development In Rural Areas Research Articles

A Study on the Role of MGNREGA in Fostering Economic Development via Welfare Initiatives, Employment Opportunities, and Asset Formation in Rural Bangalore

Abstract: Over the years, the evolution of the Indian economy has witnessed substantial transformation and enhancement. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) has emerged as a pivotal component in fostering the development of rural India, primarily through its dual impact of employment generation and asset formation. This research paper employs trend analysis to investigate the pivotal role of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in driving economic development in rural areas of Bangalore. MGNREGA, a flagship welfare initiative, is examined through its multifaceted impact on welfare enhancement, employment generation, and asset accumulation. The study delves into the effectiveness of MGNREGA in improving the socio-economic well-being of rural communities by providing critical welfare benefits, facilitating employment opportunities, and promoting asset formation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the nuanced relationship between MGNREGA initiatives and economic development outcomes in rural Bangalore. By uncovering significant trends and patterns, the research offers actionable recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to optimize MGNREGA's impact on fostering inclusive and sustainable economic growth in rural areas

Assessment of natural resource endowment and urban-rural integration for sustainable development in Xinjiang, China

Water and land (W-L) resources become even more important in the context of urban-rural integration in China's arid northwest region in order to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Our study used Gini coefficients to examine the relationship between natural resources and economic development in China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Cobb-Douglas (C-D) production functions were used to determine the economic impacts of W-L resources on rural-urban economic development. We also examined the spatiotemporal interaction characteristics of the growth drag effect of W-L resources. As a result of the decline in Gini coefficients between 2000 and 2020, Xinjiang experienced a decrease in water resources, land resources, and urban-rural GDP (gross domestic product). The output elasticities of urban-rural land and water resources were 0.3544 and 0.4790, respectively, whereas the output elasticities of urban-rural land resources were 0.1501 and 0.2185, respectively. As a result, water resources contribute to the growth of urban-rural GDP more than land resources, and W-L resources contribute to the economic development of rural areas more than it does to that of urban areas. Land resources were found to have a drag effect on urban and rural economies, respectively, in 7 and 56 counties, respectively, and water resources were found to have a drag effect on urban and rural economies, respectively, in 67 and 58 counties. In Xinjiang, water resources contributed more to economic growth than land resources. Even though W-L resources still have a drag effect on urban-rural economic growth, we can gain greater driving force by optimizing and improving resource use. However, this requires an optimal allocation and efficient use of water resources.

Investigations on Driving Factors of Coordination Development of Rural Infrastructure and Ecological Environment: The Case of Western China

The coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological environment is an effective way to improve agricultural productivity. The primary focus of the current research is how the two can work together to promote regional economic development in rural areas and in related fields. This study takes the western region as the research object, constructs an evaluation index system for rural infrastructure and ecological environment, and uses the Min-max Scaling method, coupling coordination model, gray GM (1, 1) model, and standard deviation elliptical model for evaluation. The trends and driving factors for the coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological coupling in the region from 2012 to 2021 are analyzed. The main results are as follows: (1) Except for Tibet, Qinghai, and Ningxia, the coupling degree of rural infrastructure and the ecological environment in western China reached the maximum level during the research period, also the coordination degree showed a gradual upward trend. (2) A prediction for the development and evolution of rural infrastructure and the ecological environment in western China indicates a trend of agglomerative development in the southern region. (3) By strengthening the construction of reservoirs, improving sanitary conditions, improving cultivated land use area and forest coverage, and controlling soil erosion, the coordinated development of the two can be effectively promoted. The purpose of this study is to promote the sustainable and coordinated development of rural infrastructure and ecological environment, and to provide a reference for policy formulation in the relevant sectors and other countries and regions with similar situations.

Mushroom Picking as a Special Form of Recreation and Tourism in Woodland Areas—A Case Study of Poland

The paper looks at the potential benefits of mushrooms in terms of health, recreation, and tourism. Mycotourism is an innovative, specialised tourism product that has been successfully introduced in some regions of the world, helping to combat seasonality and promote economic development in rural areas. The aim of the study was to analyse the development of mycotourism in Poland in comparison with other countries. As a method, a questionnaire on the cultural significance of mushrooms was developed and disseminated via social media. It was found that there are strong mycophilic tendencies in Poland, leading to a strong interest in mushrooms, both in terms of cultural and culinary traditions. They are also a factor that attracts tourists to the forest areas. In contrast, the UK and Germany are more mycophobic, resulting in a lower interest in mushrooms, limited culinary use, and a lower awareness of their role in the ecosystem and their potential health benefits. The low average score for knowledge of mushrooms in countries such as the UK indicates a need for increased mycological education that can contribute to a better understanding of the conservation of these important components of the forest floor. The high proportion of people who see mushroom picking in Poland as a form of recreation emphasises its role as an important cultural and potential nature tourism asset. In Poland, where long traditions are associated with mushrooms and mushroom picking, they have a strong influence on the choice of mycological tourism, especially in regions with a rich tradition of mushroom picking. The high percentage of mushrooms used for culinary purposes, especially in Poland, emphasises their value and influences the health component of the diet, which is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Research has shown that mushroom consumption and its effects on health are perceived positively. This is evidenced by higher ratings in Poland than in the UK and Germany, indicating a general awareness of the health benefits of mushrooms, even though their use in medicine remains limited. The low level of awareness of the role of mushrooms and their potential health benefits suggests that educational and promotional activities should be increased to sensitise the public to mushrooms.

The role of tourism in the prosperity of small businesses and the economic development of rural areas (Case: Babolsar villages)

The role of tourism in the prosperity of small businesses and the economic development of rural areas (Case: Babolsar villages)

ПРОБЛЕМА ПОВЫШЕНИЯ КАЧЕСТВА И УРОВНЯ ЖИЗНИ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ СЕЛЬСКИХ ТЕРРИТОРИЙ ПРИ УСТОЙЧИВОМ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИИ

The article examines the issues of improving the quality and standard of living of the population of rural Russia. The relevance of this problem is associated with a large number of negative phenomena in rural settlements in terms of socio-economic shortcomings over a long period of ongoing transformations. This is especially important because there is a significant differentiation in the social plan of the rural population in terms of meeting material and other needs. The article pays attention to the fact that the solution of these imbalances, as well as the degree to which the rural population is satisfied with their working conditions and well-being, requires radical changes from public authorities at the legislative and executive levels. It analyzes overdue wage arrears, the number of jobs being replaced, the average real length of time worked by employees, the admission and retirement of employees, the distribution of the number of retired employees by various types of retirements, the number of employees who are employed part-time at the enterprise. The study found that the degree of gasification of rural areas, the network of secondary schools, district hospitals, outpatient clinics, as well as FAP, sports complexes and playgrounds have significantly increased. The analysis confirms the need for further in-depth and comprehensive solutions to the accumulated problems through the implementation of strategic goals and objectives to improve and improve the standard and quality of life of the population in rural areas. The article suggests the main directions for improving the welfare of the population in rural areas, as well as their satisfaction with social policy. To do this, it is necessary to achieve sustainable economic development of rural areas, which will create conditions for increasing the income level of the population in rural areas, and as a result of improving the level and quality of life of the population in rural areas.

EUROPEAN PRACTICES OF RURAL GREEN TOURISM: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

The relevance of researching rural green tourism in Europe is an important field that offers tourists the opportunity to enjoy nature and the countryside, interact with locals and participate in authentic rural life. Implementing environmentally sustainable green tourism practices will help conserve natural resources and reduce the environmental impact of tourism. Encouraging the development of local entrepreneurship and crafts can contribute to preserving the authenticity and economic development of rural areas. Rural green tourism can become a forum for cultural exchange between tourists and local people, promoting mutual understanding. A balanced approach that takes into account infrastructure needs, environmental sustainability, cultural aspects and the participation of local communities is key to the successful development of rural green tourism in Europe. The purpose of the study is to consider the theoretical and practical aspects of European practices of rural green tourism in the context of challenges, to analyse the prospects and opportunities for the development of rural green tourism. The research methodology of the topic includes the systemic method, which recognises the importance of studying the rural green tourism system in Europe, considering its elements and their interaction. The structural method aims at revealing the structure of the object, identifying the key elements and the relationships between them. Results. The article presents directions for the development of rural green tourism, proving that it has significant potential for promoting the development of rural areas and stimulating the economy. This issue is of practical importance, as the growing popularity of rural green tourism creates a demand for hotel, restaurant, excursion and other entertainment services, which can lead to the creation of new jobs, regional economic development and the preservation of cultural and traditional aspects of rural communities. Increased tourism potential can encourage local governments and businesses to invest in infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants, transport and entertainment facilities, and attracting tourists to natural areas encourages more environmentally conscious behaviour and the conservation of natural resources. It was concluded that the development of rural tourism is an effective tool for attracting tourists and creating a positive image of regions. The research on rural green tourism in Europe not only contributes to the development of the tourism industry, but also has an important impact on the socio-economic development and the preservation of the natural and cultural heritage of the regions.

Impact of Return Migration on the Employment Structure of Non-Migrants: Evidence from Rural China

Research on the impact of returnees on rural economic development in China is scarce with the increasing number of migrant workers returning to the countryside from Chinese cities. Data from China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) of 2014 and 2016 are used in this paper, attempting to discuss this issue from the perspective of the impact of returnees on the employment of the non-migrant labor force based on occupational skill structure. It is found that the higher the proportion of returnees at the county level is, the more non-migrants will shift to non-agricultural areas after controlling for the exogenous factors of returning reason. Stayers are more likely to work in the medium-skilled secondary industry and construction and escape away from the low-skilled service sector. Off-farm job opportunity and peer effect may be two main channels of returnees to influence job structure of non-migrants. This paper provides empirical evidence on the contribution of Chinese returnees to non-agricultural economic development in rural areas.

Revitalizing Rural Wealth: Uncovering the Potential of Local Resources through Coffee Cake and Jackfruit Cake Innovations for Sustainable Community Development

The aim of this service is to empower local economic members to build a coffee cake and jackfruit cake business that will increase the income of rural residents, supporting sustainable local economic development. The service method used is joint product development to develop new cake variants with sustainable innovation involving culinary experts, local business actors and the local community. The research results obtained from this service increase local income. Adding production and sales of jackfruit cake and coffee increases the income of rural communities. The implication of this service is strengthening local identity, increasing knowledge about the richness of local culture and making tourists interested in local culinary delights. Therefore, through innovation in coffee cake and jackfruit cake, this project is expected to help sustainable development and welfare of rural communities.
 Highlights : 
 
 Joint Collaboration: Involving culinary experts, local businesses, and the community in joint product development fosters collaboration for sustainable innovation.
 Economic Impact: The introduction of coffee cake and jackfruit cake contributes to increased income, supporting local economic development in rural areas.
 Cultural Enrichment: The project enhances local identity, promotes cultural richness, and attracts tourists through the innovation in coffee and jackfruit cakes.
 
 Keywords : Coffee Cake and Jackfruit Cake, Sustainable Community Development, Rural Wealth, Culinary Diversity, Rural Economic Empowerment

DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE’S ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL SYSTEM IS A RESPONSE TO MILITARY CHALLENGES

The problems associated with incompetent land and resource management, inefficient administrative and land taxation systems are especially acute in the face of geopolitical threats and military challenges. The shadow land economy, concealed use of almost half of the shares, socially unfair re-distribution of land resources, and ability to buy hundreds of houses and grounds by one person, and land tax evasion are undermining the communities’ budgets as well as the foundations of social and economic development in rural areas. The paper highlights the need to improve and further develop the administrative and territorial system in Ukraine under the conditions of military challenges. It also presents a journey into the history of administrative and territorial reforms implemented on Ukrainian lands and gives an analysis of similar experience in other countries. The administrative and territorial reforms in European countries managed to combat separatist tendencies. In Europe, the gentrification and urbanization processes preserve the settlement system and sustain the settlement network. However, in Ukraine, even during the war, city authorises continue to support multi-storey residential development projects for city centres, thus undermining the ability of the cities to respond to military threats. The study reveals shortcomings of the current administrative and territorial system and identifies negative patterns in the land taxation system and those associated with socially just re-distribution of land resources. It also proposes a new regional regulation system for Ukraine and presents managerial and regulatory strategies to rationalize main territorial units, namely communities and areas. The ways to increase the sustainability of territories economically, socially, demographically and militarily, are also described. The administrative and territorial reform can only be successful in a socially and economically just society regarding the issues of land recourse re-distribution, taxation system, and infrastructure development.

Do natural disaster affect rural labor migration? Evidence from the Wenchuan earthquake in China

A stable labor supply is pivotal for the economic development of rural areas. However, the response of the rural workforce in developing countries to the natural disasters has received limited attention. This paper examines the causal relationship between severe earthquake shock and rural labor migration, utilizing a unique micro-panel dataset from Sichuan province in China. Using a difference-in-differences model, we find that the earthquake significantly increases rural labor migration, and this effect is primarily manifested in the medium to long term after the disaster. Rural laborers mainly migrated to work within the county, primarily in the construction and manufacturing sector. Furthermore, the majority of these migrating workers are male. Individuals from households with minimal agricultural ties and limited social networks are more vulnerable to the disaster. To mitigate the loss of rural labor due to natural disasters, we provide several recommendations at the end of the paper. These include enhancing the adaptive and coping capacities of farmers, offering them stable demand within the industrial chain, agricultural operational subsidies, and policy-based insurance, as well as promoting the development of cooperative economic organizations in villages.

New insights into the rural development economies under the moderating role of gender equality and mediating role of rural women development

In Pakistan, like other developing countries, rural women's participation has emerged as a profound construct, influencing the country's economic structure. In recent years, its vital reproductive role has opened new ways to overcome the issues of gender inequality, unequal financial distribution, and inadequate training and development. Hence, to bridge a gap in the research, the current study aims to determine the mediating and moderating role of rural women's development and gender equality for economic development in the rural areas of Pakistan. Using 249 samples, the analysis is conducted through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. The study's results indicate that skills development and technical training significantly influence rural women's development, whereas access to finance and social networking also ensures economic development in rural areas. With this, the results also confirmed positive mediation and moderation of rural women's development and gender equality. Therefore, in line with these findings, the current study suggests that women's roles in different dimensions of sustainable development are less reflected in the target areas. Policy recommendations focus on practical, legislative, legal, and administrative actions to address these barriers. As such, the study guides policymakers, financial institutions, and governmental organizations to empower rural women by embracing gender equality and economic development.

An extended intelligent technique for multiple-attribute decision-making under single-valued neutrosophic sets and applications to sustainable development evaluation of rural ecotourism

With the development of society and the times, the socialist modernization cause in China is constantly developing, and the improvement of the economy has also driven the development of rural ecotourism industry in China. The unique natural terrain and cultural customs in rural areas have promoted the continuous development of local ecotourism industry, which has had a positive impact on the economic development of rural areas and not only solved the employment problem of the majority of the population in rural areas. It can also bring a continuous stream of economic benefits and continuously improve the living standards of local residents. Rural ecotourism refers to a rural tourism activity that takes place in rural areas, supported by the agricultural industry, and attracted by the rural environment and typical rural ecotourism resources, with the concept of ecotourism. Rural ecotourism mainly takes the form of rural scenery, agricultural participation, and folk experience, integrating sightseeing experience, cognition, and tourism activities. The main principles of rural tourism development are agricultural support, people-oriented, ecological protection, community participation, income feedback, and ecological home construction. The sustainable development evaluation of rural ecotourism is a classical multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) issue. In such paper, the generalized weighted Bonferroni mean (GWBM) operator and power average (PA) is constructed for MADM with single-valued neutrosophic sets (SVNSs). Then, the single-valued neutrosophic number power generalized BM (SVNNPGBM) operator is built and then the MADM decision methods are proposed based on the SVNNPGBM operator. Finally, an example for sustainable development evaluation of rural ecotourism and some comparative analysis were given to demonstrate the SVNNPGBM method.

Performance Model of Youth Entrepreneurship Platform in the Context of Common Wealth Returning to Hometown

The construction of business incubator platforms to assist young people who return to their hometowns to launch their own enterprises is urgently needed because youth entrepreneurship is seen as a crucial component of rural revitalization. Based on this, the authors of this study distributed surveys to 468 returning youths in rural startup spaces to gather data, built a structural model, and conducted interviews with 13 entrepreneurial youths to examine the relationship between government policies, services, and the design of rural startup spaces, as well as the self-efficacy of returning entrepreneurial youths and the innovation performance of businesses. The results demonstrate how important government policies are in encouraging youth entrepreneurship in their local communities. It has the potential to enhance both the development of rural crowdsourcing spaces and the self-efficacy of young entrepreneurs, thereby enhancing the innovative capabilities of local entrepreneurial businesses. Therefore, in order to encourage economic development in rural areas, the government should improve pertinent support measures, enhance the development of business incubation platforms, and encourage young people moving back to their hometowns to start their own businesses.

How the rural infrastructure construction drives rural economic development through rural living environment governance—case study of 285 cities in China

With deepening of rural revitalization strategy, rural infrastructure construction plays an important role in local economic development and living environment governance. Based on the mediation model, this paper takes case study of 285 cities in China from 2017 to 2022 as samples, constructs the explanatory variable, the explained variable and the mediator variable by entropy method, empirically analyzes the impact of rural infrastructure construction on rural living environment governance and rural economic development, as well as the mediation role played by rural living environment governance. It is found that there is a significant positive impact between rural infrastructure construction and rural economic development, and rural infrastructure construction can promote economic development through rural living environment governance. Further analysis show that the impact of rural infrastructure construction on rural economic development presents heterogeneity, and the impacts of rural infrastructure construction on local economic development and on local economic development through living environment governance in the eastern and central China is stronger than that in the western China. After controlling a series of variables related to rural infrastructure construction, and performing endogeneity tests and robustness tests such as tail-shrinkage regression and principal component analysis, the regression results are still robust. This paper firstly provides scientific empirical evidence for the hypothesis that rural infrastructure construction promotes local economic development through rural living environment governance, and secondly confirms the necessity of strengthening rural infrastructure construction in China to promote rural revitalization, providing a policy basis for scientific decision-making, and finally finds an important way out to solve the problem of unbalanced economic development in rural areas to some extent.

Study on the optimization strategy of agricultural industry economic management innovation in the context of rural revitalization in the multi-Internet era

Abstract With the implementation of a rural revitalization strategy, the management of the rural industrial economy urgently needs further innovation and optimization. In this paper, principal component analysis is used to identify the key factors of the problems of agricultural and industrial economic management in the context of rural revitalization, and potential indicator factors are uncovered through principal component analysis, and these potential factors are used instead of all indicators for more accurate analysis. Meanwhile, the PCA method was combined with a support vector machine to construct a PCA-SVM model, based on which the influence factors of agricultural economic efficiency were measured. The higher the degree of informationization of agricultural management, the greater the influence factor on agricultural economic benefits, and the correlation rate reached 26.85%. The higher the degree of the system construction of agricultural management, the greater the influence factor on agricultural economic efficiency, and the correlation rate reached 32.14%. The higher the degree of improvement of infrastructure construction, the higher the influence factor on agricultural economic efficiency, with a correlation rate of 35.68%. This study can precisely analyze the current problems in the economic management of the agricultural industry and provide effective references for promoting the economic development of rural areas in the context of rural revitalization.

How do China's villages self‐organize collective land use under the background of rural revitalization? A multi‐case study in Zhejiang, Fujian and Guizhou provinces

AbstractAs land is one of the most important production factors in rural areas, it is becoming an important challenge for rural revitalization strategy to realize land value and promote the socioeconomic development of villages through the collective action of self‐organized collective land use. Various studies have discussed the relationships among land governance, rural revitalization and self‐organization, but few studies have focused on village cadres' roles and village rules. This paper aims to establish an analytical framework to explore these two operating mechanisms of self‐organization in collective land use. Two villages in eastern China and one village in western China are selected as typical cases to demonstrate how collective land use is self‐organized by village cadres' roles and village rules. The results indicate that village cadres play roles in the entrepreneurial spirit and resource access capacity to promote village economic and social development. In the utilization of collective land for farmers to live in peace and work happily, the configuration of rules at the village level to regulate the behaviour of villagers is a qualification on demand and “see who can take part”, cost sharing and benefit sharing, graduated sanction and supervision. The analysis in this article may provide an understanding of the mechanism driving the promotion and improvement of land self‐organization, which has important policy implications for China and other developing countries adopting this mode to promote regional economic development in rural areas.

The Effect of Rural Road Access on Rural Households Livelihood Improvement: Evidence from Selected Weredas in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

The development of appropriate road infrastructure is fundamental to economic growth and poverty reduction. Rural roads, especially, are especially important for economic development in rural areas. Against this background, this study aims at investigating the effect of rural road access on rural households’ livelihood improvement. Concerning the methodology, mixed research approach involving descriptive and explanatory designs was used. This study compares (using propensity score matching techniques) households located in Keble’s with road access to suitable controls. The descriptive analysis reveals that rural roads provide enhanced access to markets for inputs such as fertilizers and improved seeds, enable households to sell their produce to nearby markets, and allow to achieve additional non-farm employment opportunities, leading to a rise in income and reduce poverty. The results from econometrics analysis shows that road access positively and significantly improved the livelihood of households as measured by the livelihoods asset capital index. On the basis of their propensity score, the mean difference in the livelihood assets index between households located in Keble’s with road access and non-accessible household’s ranges up to 6% after matching. The results also indicated that women who are employed during road construction, on average, have 25% to 37% higher empowerment level than those who are not employed. This strengthens the argument for making efforts towards gender mainstreaming during rural road construction and greater engagement of women in road planning and implementation.

Conditions for Operating in Marginal Mountain Areas: The Local Farmer’s Perspective

Agriculture and local food products can have a significant impact on the economic development of rural areas. However, in environments as harsh as marginal mountain areas it may be difficult to find the right conditions to start a new production. This study aims to present the positive and negative circumstances for starting and operating agricultural activities in minor mountain contexts while assuming the mountain farmer’s viewpoint. With reference to the Soana Valley, in the Northwestern Italian Alps, four semi-structured interviews with mountain farmers have been carried out to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Preliminary results include land availability, lack of marketing skills, high level of bureaucracy and financial overexposure as the main limitations in starting new economic activity. The adoption of quality/origin labels and multifunctionality in agriculture and tourism as the end market can be considered to be potential flywheels by operators. Therefore, local policy makers can support farmers by firstly reducing land fragmentation and secondly by providing technical assistance for achieving financial funding.

MONITORING THE ECONOMIC GOALS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RURAL TERRITORIES OF THE SIBERIAN FEDERAL DISTRICT

The authors presented an overview of the sustainable development goals (SDGs No. 8, 9) in the direction of “economy” in the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to monitor economic goals in rural areas in the regions of the Siberian Federal District according to the indicators presented by the resolution of the UN General Assembly A/RES/70/1. At the forefront of these goals is the achievement of inclusive economic growth and decent work for all (SDG 8) in connection with the widespread creation and use of infrastructure capable of sustainable industrialisation and the use of innovation (SDG 9). It is critical to ensure the achievement of these goals in territories that are on the sidelines of economic growth and progress and thereby provide a decent life for the population of these territories. The need to study the level of economic development of rural areas is also essential because of the high degree of correlation between the development of agriculture in particular and the agro-industrial complex in general and the sustainable development of rural areas. Moreover, changing living conditions in different places are forcing the population to look for new homes. As a result, most of the population tends to large cities or suburbs. But cities alone cannot lead to economic growth; this requires resources precisely concentrated in sparsely populated areas, the development of which is capable of achieving the declared financial goals. Therefore, the authors also considered the factors influencing the achievement of these goals. The research methods were retrospective and statistical analyses. As a result of the study, proposals are presented for optimising economic actions and developing measures to effectively manage processes to achieve the financial goals of sustainable development in rural areas of the Siberian Federal District.