Policy In Rural Areas Research Articles

Effects of Naira Redesign Policy on the Economic Activities of Rural Communities: Study of Kontagora Rural Communities

The currency redesign is one among many monetary policies of the Central Bank of Nigeria aimed at reaffirming the institution’s sovereignty and also to curb specific financial infractions such as currency hoarding and counterfeiting, and the likes. The paper examined the effects of the naira redesign policy in rural areas' economic activities The impact of the Policy on the economy of the nation and the financial hardships experienced by rural dwellers in some selected communities of Kontagora Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria. The study used primary data drawn from structured questionnaires administered to various stakeholders such Rural dwellers, Rural traders of Agro-allied products, Animal traders, and Farmers The study found that Naira redesign though is a good measure in the containment of inflation, in asserting the sovereignty of the government’s monetary policy, in curbing bribery and corruption and so on. However, the timing and modalities has created untold hardship to rural dwellers.

Agricultural Vertical Cooperatives: the State and Directions of State Support

Agricultural vertical cooperatives created by small agricultural producers play an essential role in the market integration of small farms, ensuring employment and income of the rural population, and the stability of the agro-food market. The study of the problems of rural cooperation belongs to the relevant areas of economic research in the agro-industrial complex. The article analyzes the level and trends in the development of agricultural vertical cooperatives in Russia, including the dynamics of the number of certain types of cooperatives in 2019-2024, the social composition and equipment of fixed assets of cooperatives, their role in the production of a number of food resources. The conclusion is made about the slow development of cooperation and the significant differentiation of the cooperative movement across the subjects of the Russian Federation. The main reasons for the current situation and directions for improving cooperative policy in rural areas are considered.

Analysis Of Decentralization Policy Implementation In Improving The Quality Of Public Services In Rural Areas

This study aims to analyze the implementation of decentralization policies and their impact on the quality of public services in rural areas. Decentralization has been implemented with the expectation of enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public services through the delegation of authority to local governments. This research employs a qualitative approach with a case study method in several villages in [Name of the Regency] Regency. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews with village government officials, community leaders, and residents, as well as through the analysis of policy documents and related reports. The results of the study indicate that the implementation of decentralization policies in rural areas has brought about several positive changes, such as increased accessibility to services and greater community participation in the decision-making process. However, there are also several challenges, including limited human and financial resources and resistance to change. These findings suggest that although decentralization has the potential to improve the quality of public services, its success is highly dependent on local capacity and sustained support from the central government. Based on these findings, the study provides strategic recommendations to strengthen the implementation of decentralization policies, including enhancing human resource capacity through continuous training, ensuring adequate budget allocation, and encouraging collaboration between central and local governments. Thus, it is hoped that the quality of public services in rural areas can continue to improve, bringing greater benefits to the local community.

Catalysing Financial Inclusion in South Africa's Rural Landscape: A Theoretical Discourse of PoS Business Model

In countries like South Africa, where cash plays a pivotal role in social and economic life, limited access to financial institutions, in rural areas has led to significant economic challenges for citizens and businesses. This limitation has further exacerbated the financial exclusion of the underserved population resonating with poor economic growth. In addressing the issue, this desktop-based theoretical discourse, draws on the Technology Acceptance Model, Schumpeterian Entrepreneurship Theory, and Circular Flow of Income Model to conceptualise cash point-of-sale business model, as an innovative mechanism with the potential to spearhead the country’s financial inclusion efforts, entrepreneurial imperatives and local economic participation. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and financial institutions to design and implement effective financial inclusion policies in rural areas. By addressing unique challenges faced by rural communities, such as limited infrastructure and lower levels of education, a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem can be achieved, contributing to broader social and economic development goals in South Africa's rural landscape. An exploratory empirical study is further recommended to pave the way for the development of a contextual framework to guide the model’s implementation in South Africa.

Integration perspectives for improving regional policy in rural areas of Bulgaria

Purpose. The purpose of the research is to determine the degree of implementation of specific regional policies in rural areas in the context of Bulgaria’s integration into the European Union through the prospects of the changing economic situation and new trends in the implementation of regional policy. Methodology / approach. The focus of the research is the need for a working regional policy that gives importance to the development of rural areas and influences the demographic and socio-economic processes in Bulgaria. The study is defined by comparative analysis, reference to expert assessment, use of statistical data, and analysis of strategic documents and programs related to regional development. Results. This research has shown that the applied regional development policies within the European Union have partial success. At the same time, the problems and emerging deficits are successfully defined, but it is more difficult to find optimal solutions that can be applied in more than one municipality. In this direction, regional policy has its achievements in its development, but new solutions are still being sought for several spatial and territorial problems in connection with integration into a common European market. This means a comprehensive process of functional impacts in the socio-economic development of nearly 281 regions. In Bulgaria, the situation is even more complicated, because it is necessary to have a dual approach in regional politics. On the one hand, the development of the most urbanised regions, and on the other hand, the development of the rural areas, which are decisive for the development of the greater part of the territory of Bulgaria. Originality / scientific novelty. The regional development policy carried out in the years after 2007 has a static and spontaneous character, the new approach of the measures and programs after 2023 are based on new concepts and elements in line with information technologies, development of intelligent systems, economic connectivity to overcome the backward development of rural areas. New approaches and moments are proposed in the construction of a regional policy, which has a new framework and provisions for the development of the European economic space. In this direction, the need for expert decisions related to the management of regional development comes to the fore. Practical value / implications. It is necessary to make regional development a national priority. In addition, governments should facilitate access to young people and medium-sized businesses for the use of inputs and the promotion of projects. Access to financing, strategic, and planning activities, which have their characteristics at different levels, must be further developed.

Villages SDG's response to mental health: Better late than never

Purpose: This article presents village-based mental health policies in response to sustainable development goals. Research methodology: A qualitative research approach was used in conjunction with library research. Results: According to the findings of this study, the focus of development goals, namely living a healthy and affluent life, has not been on mental health. Furthermore, there are findings on advocacy, research and innovation, partnership, and integration of mental health and other SDGs. Contribution: Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations were made, including developing wise mental health policies in rural areas, increasing mental health commitments and budgets, mobilizing communities to respond to rural mental health policies, and improving treatment facilities and mental health response services. Novelty: Although the goals of sustainable development place a special emphasis on healthy and prosperous lives, insufficient data on mental health have been collected, and mental health policies based on village wisdom have not become a theme that many central and regional governments have implemented.

A Review of the Implementation Effects, Causes, and Development of the “Double Reduction” Policy in Rural Areas

A Review of the Implementation Effects, Causes, and Development of the “Double Reduction” Policy in Rural Areas

СОЦІАЛЬНА ІНКЛЮЗІЯ ТА СТАЛИЙ СІЛЬСЬКИЙ РОЗВИТОК: НА ПЕРЕТИНІ ПОЛІТИК ЄС

The article presents the results of research into the conceptual foundations of social inclusion policy, identifies its principles, goals and subjects in accordance with modern world practice. It has been proven that social isolation is an urgent problem of modern times in countries regardless of their level of development and carries with it significant negative socio-economic consequences for individuals, countries and the world community in the form of increased social tension and conflict, loss of human capital and GDP. Methodological aspects of the social inclusion basic principles and ideas implementation in the policy of rural development in the European Union are determined. It has been established that social inclusion as a tool for ensuring sustainable rural development is implemented at the pan-European, national and local levels within the framework of various components of institutional support for rural areas. Promotion of social inclusion is carried out through the implementation of numerous programs focused on the support of certain socially vulnerable groups of the population – youth, women, migrants, disability people, etc. The institutional basis for the systematic implementation of the social inclusion policy in rural areas is formed by the European network for rural development, which includes government institutions of various levels and stakeholders of sustainable rural development, represented through local action groups. It has been proven that the systematic implementation of social inclusion initiatives has become a guarantee of progress in achieving the goals of sustainable development in rural areas, the basis of the formation of a comfortable and conflict-free environment for life without any social, economic or other discrimination.

To UBI or Not to UBI? Universal Basic Income Creating Value in Rural Areas of Romania

People below the poverty line need financial support to meet their basic needs. One type of support is Universal Basic Income (UBI), which is paid to all adults individually, without means-test or work requirement. This paper investigates the effectiveness of basic-income social policies in rural areas of Romania. The author has analyzed possibly the longest-running Universal Basic Income program created by a non-governmental organization. This social experiment has been running for more than fifteen years and counting. Once a thriving bulwark of socio-economic stability in the country, rural areas grapple for decades with the tsunami effect of ill-fated socio-economic reforms of the ’90s, which dragged the rural economy and its people into a vicious cycle of poverty. Constant economic migration, depopulation, lack of basic needs, and a generation of orphans – the byproduct of economic migration and lack of education – constitute the new dire reality of a once prosperous blend of small economies. Under these circumstances, providing unconditional guaranteed income, independent of any other revenue streams, seems a natural way to alleviate the effects of systemic, multidimensional poverty. With mostly non-existent government programs and a weak business sector, the responsibility for such targeted interventions rests on the shoulders of third-sector organizations. The study’s results prove that such programs’ impact and benefits far outweigh their monetary costs and the stigma associated with “social welfare” proposals. Reframing the concept of UBI allows for creating more perfect baselines, a better way of measuring the needs, and means to fulfil these needs more effectively. This, in turn, drives the creation of a more powerful (and meaningful) set of tools for assessing these needs to meet the demand adequately.

Place-based polices and e-commerce development in rural China

This paper estimates the effects of a prominent place-based policy in rural areas of China, the Rural E-commerce Demonstration Counties (henceforth REDC), on the local e-commerce development. Relying on plausible exogenous variation in place-based policies caused by the staggered implementation of REDC and a difference-in-differences approach, we show that the REDC program has significantly increased the start-up of online business entities and helped them to survive. We also observe that the REDC program plays a positive role in improving logistics infrastructure and nurturing relevant talents. Moreover, we find that remote counties and counties with smaller market potential benefits more from the REDC program. Further analysis finds that the REDC program also has a positive impact on the scale of e-commerce, business, and local labor market. This paper provides new evidence on the positive effects of place-based policies on local development.

Climate impact of coal-to-clean-energy shift policies in rural Northern China

China has implemented the coal-to-clean-energy shift policy in rural areas of northern China to improve air quality, optimize energy structure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a significant increase in natural gas and electricity consumption. The policies shifts can reduce CO2 emissions, but methane emissions from switching processes may contribute to short-term climate impacts. The climate impact during the policy transition is still unclear. Thus, this paper developed a lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions framework for coal-to-clean-energy policies in rural northern China. The GHG emissions for heating and cooking, the two most energy intensive activities, were calculated. Four scenarios were designed based on energy types and equipment. Uncertainties in estimating lifecycle GHG emissions under different scenarios were analyzed. The technology warming potential values were calculated for the conversion of scenarios. Besides, the environmental benefits of natural gas versus electricity under emission reduction targets were compared. According to our findings, the total GHG emissions reduction of coal-to-clean-energy shift policies in rural northern China under global warming potential on a 100-year scale (GWP 100) is 1.83 million metric ton CO2 equivalent (MMT CO2 eq) in 2018. Since the climate benefits of policy shifts are driven by chosen technical routes, replacing coal with natural gas should be prioritized; heating with natural gas boilers can maximize GHG emissions reduction and climate benefits. By 2038, the climate benefits of electricity will be far superior to those of natural gas, based on emission reduction targets and electrical mix. There are numerous opportunities to reduce GHG emissions in China's energy sector, and there is a need for the energy industry to obtain better emissions data as well as to increase efforts to reduce GHG emissions.

Bridging National Policies with Practical Rural Construction and Development: Research on a Decision Support System Based on Multi-Source Big Data and Integrated Algorithms

While national policies play a crucial role in shaping local development, effective governance is essential for rural revitalization. However, the successful implementation and impact of these policies in rural areas can vary due to unique local circumstances, limited information, and a lack of sophisticated decision making tools. Closing the divide between overarching national policies and practical rural development is an immediate necessity. This study begins by creating a comprehensive five-dimensional evaluation system encompassing industrial economy, public utilities, transportation and logistics, policy and institutions, and resources and the environment. It then summarizes four typical development modes—the suburban fusion mode, the characteristic industry-oriented mode, the humanistic and ecological resource-based mode, and the balanced development mode with less distinct characteristics—through an analysis of the Chinese government’s policy framework for rural construction. Subsequently, it introduces a decision support system for rural construction and development founded on multi-source heterogeneous big data and integrated algorithms. This system was tested using 782 townships as samples for classification, evaluation, and decision support. The results leverages insights into current rural development trends to efficiently align with national policies and provide customized implementation recommendations tailored to local resource characteristics. This contributes to the practical execution of rural revitalization strategies and the advancement of scientific rural decision making.

COVID-19 transmission driven by age-group mathematical model in Shijiazhuang City of China

BackgroundA COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas of Shijiazhuang City was attributed to the complex interactions among vaccination, host, and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). Herein, we investigated the epidemiological characteristics of all reported symptomatic cases by picking Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province in Northern China as research objective. In addition, we established an age-group mathematical model to perform the optimal fitting and to investigate the dynamical profiles under three scenarios. MethodsAll reported symptomatic cases of Shijiazhuang epidemic (January 2-February 3, 2021) were investigated in our study. The cases were classified by gender, age group and location, the distributions were analyzed by epidemiological characteristics. Furthermore, the reported data from Health Commission of Hebei Province was also analyzed by using an age-group mathematical model by two phases and three scenarios. ResultsShijiazhuang epidemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 wild strain was recorded with the peak 84 cases out of 868 reported symptomatic cases on January 11, 2021, which was implemented with strong NPIs by local government and referred as baseline situation in this study. The research results showed that R0 under baseline situation ranged from 4.47 to 7.72, and Rt of Gaocheng Distinct took 3.72 with 95% confidence interval from 3.23 to 4.35 on January 9, the declining tendencies of Rt under baseline situation were kept till February 3, the value of Rt reached below 1 on January 19 and remained low value up to February 3 for Gaocheng District and Shijiazhuang City during Shijiazhuang epidemic. This indicated Shijiazhuang epidemic was under control on January 19. However, if the strong NPIs were kept, but remote isolation operated on January 11 was not implemented as of February 9, then the scale of Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 9,482 cases from age group who were 60 years old and over out of 31,017 symptomatic cases. The investigation also revealed that Shijiazhuang epidemic reached 132,648 symptomatic cases for age group who were 60 years old and over (short for G2) under risk-based strategies (Scenario A), 58,048 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine strategies (Scenario B) and 207,124 symptomatic cases for G2 under late quarantine double risk strategies (Scenario C), and that the corresponding transmission tendencies of Rt for three scenarios were consistently controlled on Jan 29, 2021. Compared with baseline situation, the dates for controlling Rt below 1 under three scenarios were delayed 10 days. ConclusionsShijiazhuang epidemic was the first COVID-19 outbreak in the rural areas in Hebei Province of Northern China. The targeted interventions adopted in early 2021 were effective to halt the transmission due to the implementation of a strict and village-wide closure. However we found that age group profile and NPIs played critical rules to successfully contain Shijiazhuang epidemic, which should be considered by public health policies in rural areas of mainland China during the dynamic zero-COVID policy.

Effecs of Bolsa Família on rural welfare: a computable equilibrium analysis

This paper analyzes the effects of the Bolsa Família Program on the economic well-being of rural families in the Brazilian macrorregions, contributing to the debate on income transfer programs. The objectives of the study are to analyze the impact of the Bolsa Program on the economic well-being of families living in rural areas in each Brazilian macrorregion and on the impact of government transfers on the prices of primary factors. The results indicate that, although the program is initially efficient in promoting the fight against inequality, gains in terms of economic well-being are minimal, as well as reducing the price of the labor factor, suggesting that in the long run, besides the effects of the Bolsa Família Program becoming more lenient, and there is a need for transfers from the Bolsa Família Program to be linked to labor market policies in rural areas. The effects of a real public expenditure on the Bolsa Família Program in rural families in the brazilian regions, considering the rural families, are low but positive and higher than the unit, which confirms the guiding hypothesis of the research.

Public policies and social responsibility regarding gender policies in rural areas of Spain: Do men and women agree on its necessity and relevance?

Public social responsibility includes the implementation of policies to reduce gender differences in employment. This responsibility is even more essential in rural areas facing serious socioeconomic and demographic sustainability challenges. Using data from a survey on inhabitants of the so-called “depopulated Spain”, this study find gender-related differences as regards the factors conditioning the desire to emigrate. The intention to leave their regions of origin is stronger in women than in men, with this intention being affected by demographic and socioeconomic variables. Young and middle-aged women are mainly employed in the service sector, and those with a higher level of education have a clear desire to emigrate to larger, more populated municipalities. In addition, different male and female profiles characterise the prioritisation of a series of public policies that the public administration could promote to enhance equality, in economic terms, in the field of social protection and to incentivise the presence of women in company representative bodies.

Youth policy in rural areas: the need for a change of focus

Purpose – to analyze the problems of retaining young professionals in the countryside, factors influencing the choice of work in rural areas and determining migration behavior; show the role of youth policy in rural areas; new approaches to youth employment. Methods – theoretical basis of the study was the results of fundamental and applied developments of domestic and foreign scientists, leading experts on the problems of the activities of young personnel on the b asis of indicators of the dynamics of development of the young generation in the republic and its regions. Results – the conditions affecting the adaptation of young specialists to the conditions of rural areas are considered, promising directions for their professional growth are identified, the need for self-determination and realization of creative abilities, creation of favorable economic, social and legal guarantees is proved. To date, the Republic of Kazakhstan has accumulated experience of its own development path in this area, which allows to talk about the Kazakhstani model of youth personnel policy in the countryside. An assessment of the effectiveness of implemented measures is given. Recommendations have been developed on introduction of effective means of supporting young workers, which can be used to create strategic, tactical, operational plans and programs aimed at increasing the production of the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan. Conclusions – based on the experience of foreign countries, specific (targeted) work should be carried out with various categories of young people. It is necessary to improve the information base for assessing the effectively implemented youth policy and adjusting managerial decisions and activities at the regional level.

Creative views on solving the problems of social policy in Russia and Belarus in rural areas

The article raises the issues of the ultimate effectiveness of regulatory measures of a social nature carried out by the state in rural areas of Russia and Belarus. For this purpose, the results of individual government directives are compared with the dynamics of demographic indicators, employment, real incomes, housing provision in rural areas, the structure of household expenditures. The problem areas of social policy in rural areas of Russia and Belarus are considered. As creative views on the solution of social problems in rural areas, options for the introduction and development of innovative agro-industrial ecosystems, which are defined by the authors as a set of economic, social, energy, information, marketing, financial and other entrepreneurial business structures that cover all the problem areas of development, are proposed.

The Equalization of Public Services Promotes the Implementation of the “Double Reduction” Policy in Rural Areas

The Equalization of Public Services Promotes the Implementation of the “Double Reduction” Policy in Rural Areas

HUDUDLARDA AGROTURISTIK SALOHIYATNI BAHOLASH USLUBIYATINI TAKOMILLASHTIRISH

Tourism, as a rapidly developing and highly profitable sector of the economy, plays an important role in the development of regions, and is a source of income at the local and regional levels. Assessment of the agro-tourism potential, which forms the grounds for tourism business in regions, determines characteristics and composition of the regional agro-tourism product, shapes new tourist destinations, and priority areas of investment policy in rural areas. This article summarizes methods for assessing the agro-tourism potential in rural areas, based on the need for comprehensive assessment. The concept of «tourist potential», factors influencing its forming and evaluation parameters have also been studied. Advantages of agro-tourism from the point of view of social perception have been highlighted. The stages of assessing the tourist and recreational potential and agro-tourism attractiveness of a region have been presented. The methodology for comprehensive assessment of the development of agro-tourism in administrative districts has been studied based on a classification of indicators that reflect the level of agro-tourism potential according to the Sturges criterion, with an account of specifics and competitive traits of regions. The use of generalized methods enables unbiased assessment of the potential of agro-tourism, taking into account specific features of each region.

The experience of solving the housing problem and housing construction in the daily life of the villagers of Central Kazakhstan in 1964-1985

This article is devoted to the study of the experience of solving housing problems and housing construction, the state of housing of the villagers of Central Kazakhstan in 1964-1985. Based on archival materials from the archives of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, the authors analyzed the state of the housing stock and housing construction, considered the causes of problems that have accumulated in the housing and construction business. The study also used interview materials collected among the rural population of a number of districts. As a result, the features of solving the housing problem in the agrarian regions of the region, the consequences and difficulties in construction and housing provision in rural everyday life in Central Kazakhstan were identified. Despite the gradual positive dynamics, the growth of the welfare of the villagers and the increased attention of local authorities to the construction issue in the 70s and the first half of the 80s of the twentieth century, housing security of the population was at a low level. Among the main factors of insufficient development of housing and construction, the authors identified: poor material and technical base, remoteness and dispersion of rural settlements in the region, low level of transport infrastructure, lack of construction specialists, etc. The solution to the problem was largely provided by the entrepreneurial spirit of local leaders and specialists, as well as local residents themselves. The materials of the article can serve as a basis for considering the fundamentals of Soviet state policy in rural areas in the Kazakh SSR during the years of stagnation and problems of social adaptation of rural population in Central Kazakhstan.