Rural Viability Research Articles

Women's contributions to rural development: implications for entrepreneurship policy

PurposePolicy for women's entrepreneurship is designed to promote economic growth, not least in depleted rural areas, but very little is known about the contributions of rural women entrepreneurs, their needs or how the existing policy is received by them. Using a theoretical framework developed by Korsgaard et al. (2015), the authors analyse how rural women entrepreneurs contribute to rural development and discuss the implications for entrepreneurship policy. This paper aims to focus on the aforementioned objectives.Design/methodology/approachThe authors interviewed 32 women entrepreneurs in rural Sweden representing the variety of businesses in which rural Swedish women are engaged. The authors analysed their contributions to rural development by analysing their motives, strategies and outcomes using Korsgaard et al.’s framework of “entrepreneurship in the rural” and “rural entrepreneurship” as a heuristic, interpretative device.FindingsIrrespective of industry, the respondents were deeply embedded in family and local social structures. Their contributions were substantial, multidimensional and indispensable for rural viability, but the policy tended to bypass most women-owned businesses. Support in terms of business training, counselling and financing are important, but programmes especially for women tend to miss the mark, and so does rural development policy. More important for rural women entrepreneurs in Sweden is the provision of good public services, including for example, schools and social care, that make rural life possible.Research limitations/implicationsTheoretically, the findings question the individualist and a-contextual focus of much entrepreneurship research, as well as the taken-for-granted work–family divide. How gender and how the public and the private are configured varies greatly between contexts and needs contextual assessment. Moreover, the results call for theorising place as an entrepreneurial actor.Practical implicationsBased on the findings, the authors advise future policymakers to gender mainstream entrepreneurship policy and to integrate entrepreneurship and rural development policy with family and welfare state policy.Originality/valueThe paper highlights how rural women respond to policy, and the results are contextualised, making it possible to compare them to other contexts. The authors widen the discussion on contributions beyond economic growth, and the authors show that policy for public and commercial services and infrastructure is indeed also policy for entrepreneurship.

Do the Subsidies of the Rural Development Programme Increase Employment in Rural Firms? A Counterfactual Impact Evaluation from Mainland Finland

Abstract This study examines the effect of the subsidies given to firms through the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for Mainland Finland in Finland during the 2007–2013 period. In order to understand the impacts that this programme had, the study uses counterfactual modelling to analyse what forms of subsidies impact job creation in supported firms. The results showed that subsidies from the RDP had a positive impact on the development of subsidized firms and thus, the RDP was a key instrument for the renewal of the countryside and the promotion of rural viability in Finland.

Loose housing-nothing to lose? Exploring the on-farm profitability, risk and agricultural policy consequences associated with a tie-stall ban on dairy farms

Due to stricter animal welfare regulations, in Norway tie-stalls for dairy cows are banned from 2034 onwards. The aim of this paper is to explore the profitability, risk and agricultural policy consequences associated with the transition from tie-stalls to loose housing. Data on farm economics and investments were collected from farm enterprise budgets on 66 farms that have built new cowsheds in recent years in Vestland county. Vestland was chosen because on average it has the smallest dairy farms in Norway, with 45 percent of the herds having less than 20 cows. To analyze profitability and risk we used net present value and stochastic simulation. The findings show that irrespective of herd size, to continue farming with an upgraded tie-stall is more profitable than to invest in new loose housing. For farms with less than 30 cows, investment in new loose housing is on average not profitable and involves a high risk. Unless the Governmental investment grant is significantly increased, the tie-stall ban will have large consequences for farm structure and conflict several agricultural policy goals. Farmland in less favored districts may go out of production, making it more difficult to reach the policy goals of increasing food production, agriculture across the country, biodiversity and rural viability. Our findings are of interest to politicians in countries where one considers stricter animal welfare regulations, as well as planners and farmers who consider investing in new loose housing dairies.

Women's rural businesses: for economic viability or gender equality? – a database study from the Swedish context

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore and discuss to what extent and why women's entrepreneurship contributes to rural economic viability and gender equality in an advanced welfare state.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use detailed register data to explore men's and women's rural businesses in the most common industries for rural women entrepreneurs in the Swedish welfare state. Based on a literature review, the authors develop hypotheses and analyse how family, business and industry factors influence earnings.FindingsWomen's rural entrepreneurship is important for rural viability, as women's businesses provide a wide range of services necessary for life in rural areas. Although women's rural businesses are not significantly smaller than those of men, women's income is lower and more sensitive to business and industry variables. Marriage has positive effects for the earnings of men but negative effects for the earnings of women. The authors argue that the results are contingent on the gendering of entrepreneurship and industries, as well as on the local rural gender contracts. For these reasons, the importance of women entrepreneurs for rural viability is not reflected in their own incomes. Hence, women's rural entrepreneurship does not result in (economic) gender equality.Originality/valueEntrepreneurship scholars rarely explore women's rural entrepreneurship, and particularly not in the Global North or Western welfare states. Therefore, this empirical study from Sweden provides novel information on how the gender order on the business, industry and family levels influences the income of men and women entrepreneurs differently.

Evaluating rural viability and well-being: Evidence from marginal areas in Tuscany

Promoting the viability of rural areas is a major objective of the European development and agricultural policies. One of the key aspects for the success of these policies is represented by the possibility to monitor the quality of life in all of its dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. The implementation of tools capable of pointing out the principal criticalities of human satisfaction is complex whether we are referring to the very definition of the concept of well-being or to the operative aspects in evaluating its components. We propose an approach to evaluate community well-being in which the fundamental components are defined referencing Sen's Theory of Capabilities and measured via questionnaires whose purpose is to subjectively evaluate each component on the level of territory of residence. This methodology has been applied to the case of rural areas in Tuscany (Italy). The results show that the main determinants of well-being are the individual perceptions concerning economic condition, security, environmental quality, and educational opportunities.

Management of Innovation of the Economic Potential of the Rural Enterprises

The analysis and management of innovation of the economic potential of the rural enterprises are currently the limiting factors of the stability and development of the enterprises; on the other hand, it is a condition for maintaining rural viability. Innovation is a catalyst for the growth of the enterprises, both within their internal environment and in the rural areas and the settlements established in such areas. Only the interconnection of the two levels of innovation (corporate and territorial) ensures stability and profitability for the enterprise. The paper focuses on the latter-mentioned part of innovation, both in terms of the methodology and research. The method for determining the innovative economic potential of rural settlements is presented in the paper, defined as the existential and development base for different enterprises. In relation, the paper discusses the issue of quantification of the economic potential of the clusters. The data acquisition is based on secondary data of the LAGs of the South Bohemian Region and the data from Ekotoxa. All municipalities of Trebonsko LAG (Czech Republic) are included in the data collection. The method for clustering the municipalities by their specifics is supposed to be the most important result of the research, together with defining the areas suitable for innovation processes. Four models - Economic Cluster, Social Cluster, Cluster of Infrastructure, and Cluster of Environment - are defined based on four groups of the variables (economic, social, infrastructure, and environmental). A municipality is classified into an appropriate group based on the group (pillar) in which the municipality scored the highest average order. The average order of the municipality in each pillar is calculated as well. The method is followed by a verified procedure for defining the business potential of the clusters. The stepwise backward regression method is used to define the index of progressivity of the economic structure, determining the socio-economic differentiation of the regions in the Czech Republic. Regarding both the methodological procedure and the analytical tool, it is possible to state their suitable choice; the research results are relevant, valid, and usable in practice. The activities with high economic and innovation potential in the tested area include transport services, availability of the services, municipal infrastructure, drinking water supply, the occurrence of water bodies, and the structure of the population. Keywords: municipality, economic potential, rural area, cluster, Stepwise backward regression, models, LAG of Trebonsko.

MODERNIZATION OF THE DEMAND AND SUPPLY SIDES FOR GASTRONOMIC CULTURAL HERITAGE

Gastronomic cultural heritage is part of cultural heritage. Under globalisation, individuals become increasingly interested not only in cultural heritage as a whole but also in its components, e.g. gastronomic heritage. Nowadays individuals are interested in such things as traditional foods, the techniques of preparing the foods and the traditions of consuming them. Individuals wish to see gastronomic traditions not only on a national scale but also a regional and even a local scale. Previous research studies conducted in Latvia focused on the progress of cultural heritage products as value and the introduction of such products by businesses in the rural areas of Latvia. Scientific cooperation opened up opportunities to study the phenomenon of a wider geographical space covering four countries – Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia. The aim of this research stage: to identify an impact of information on the demand-supply balance of gastronomic heritage as a product in the market. The method of the research: a sociological survey (n = 1000 from Poland, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia; 285 men and 715 women) that was carried out during 2016. Despite the fact that the sample groups were not representative (did not reflect the views of the entire population), the obtained data and results of this analysis provided insight into the cultural issues under today’s circumstances through the population’s views. The results of the study strengthen the need for the modernization of the information system in order to promote rural viability.

EU’s rural development policy at the regional level—Are expenditures for natural capital linked with territorial needs?

The restoration and improvement of natural capital (NC) in rural areas represents one of the main objectives of the EU’s rural development policy (RDP). In addition to creating environmental and biodiversity benefits, NC represents an important territorial asset and a basis to generate socio-economic second-order effects for economic competitiveness and rural viability. However, the regional capability to valorise NC depends on the specific regional context, needs and potentials, as well as targeted policy support. It has therefore been questioned whether RDP sufficiently considers territorial aspects. Based on a previous study, which distinguished RDP (2007–2013) funding priorities and regional expenditure patterns, this paper focusses on European regions (NUTS2/3) characterised by above-average relative expenditures for measures related to NC support.Building upon the hypothesis that priority setting in regional RDP programming and expenditures depends on the regional context, this study aimed to improve the understanding of priority setting in NC support in relationship to other RD objectives by taking a closer look at the conditions of regions and their communalities. By analysing the variances and spatial dependencies of regional socio-economic, environmental and agricultural framework conditions and applying statistical logit models, this study found that the probability to adopt specific NC-oriented expenditure patterns in a region can only be partly explained by these factors. While environmental variables, such as designated areas and High Nature Value (HNV) farmland, do not drive high NC expenditures, factors representing agricultural structures and conditions seem to have a larger influence. Regional RDP expenditure pattern showed an additional strong dependency from spatial association factors.

A conceptual model to integrate the regional context in landscape policy, management and contribution to rural development: Literature review and European case study evidence

Agri-environmental policies and planning influence agricultural landscape management, and thus the capacity to deliver landscape services and to contribute to rural viability. Numerous models and frameworks have been developed to improve comprehension of the mechanisms and interrelationships between policies, landscape and socio-economic values and benefits. As social-ecological systems, landscapes are closely depending from the socio-institutional and territorial context of the specific rural locality. The paper proposes an enhanced framework for assessing these mechanisms by acknowledging the critical role of the regional macro-environment. A literature review and the revisiting of evidence from eight European case studies are applied to establish a comprehensive understanding and exemplification of the links between the policies, landscape, ecosystem services and value flows. Results highlight the need for integrative, inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches. Efficient landscape policies require enhanced regional embeddedness and targeting, acknowledgement of user demands and the capability of regional community and governance structures for policy implementation and natural capital valorisation.

Marginality, Climate and Resources in Pastoral Rangelands: Oman and Mongolia

On the Ground Oman and Mongolia feature different political systems and physical landscapes yet represent similar challenges encountered across global pastoral societies. Extractive industries disrupt pastoral drylands through reorienting government policy, environmental change, altered water supply, and infrastructure factors that challenge livelihood viability. The impact of climate variability on rangeland livelihoods is now exacerbated by policy and development decisions. Herder livelihoods at different income and development levels are dependent on government policy and risk mitigation strategies to maintain customary practices. The combination of multiple external forces stress rural viability and contribute to out-migration from herding systems.

Easy access: a case study on rural marketing

Subject area Marketing management and marketing strategy, rural marketing, sales and distribution. Study level/applicability Students of business schools specialising in the area of marketing or rural marketing. Case overview The case focuses on the rural market. It deals with the alternative distribution channels adopted for last mile distribution among rural consumers of underdeveloped Odisha (India). The case discusses key issues pertaining to rural marketing, business viability, social issues and public sentiment.Easy access is an entrepreneurial venture by an erstwhile intellectual marketing professor of a premier B-school. The objective behind this initiative is multiple, viz., rural marketing, developing alternative distribution networks, women empowerment, etc. The case highlights that the business of Easy Access started with noble social objectives like women empowerment and developing a cost effective distribution network so that rural customers would be benefited. The case also highlights that the practices adopted by Easy access was not good enough to track & forecast demand effectively as well as the supply chain to replenish stock was not proper.Since the particular market is a backward region and there are number of Govt. schemes and people are given many things for free. People thought Easy Access is result of one of such schemes. Also there were social issues of improper address and mismatch identity (as mentioned in the case) etc.So the issues of demand forecasting and supply chain management along with social issues resulted in financial loss and thus the viability of business venture (Easy Access) is a concern. The social objectives associated with this venture are also at stake or at danger because of financial loss. Expected learning outcomes The case provides insights into the marketing concepts like rural marketing, marketing strategy in emerging markets and sales and distribution. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Diversification and Re‐feminisation of Norwegian Farm Properties

AbstractFemale potential successors of farm properties are increasingly choosing not to take over the farm, with the result that rural areas are becoming masculinised. The question asked in this article is, how will the current shift in European and Norwegian agriculture towards increased diversification affect the recruitment of young women to rural areas? This study employs quantitative methods to answer this question. The findings are a significant and positive relationship between the potential recruitment of women, a higher level of education among farm property owners, and farm property owners’ involvement in farm diversification associated with farm tourism and Green Care. The article concludes that there are more options for a farm‐based life than there used to be, and that this increases the probability that daughters are wanted as successors of their parents’ farm properties. This outcome is of importance for recruitment of women to rural areas and for rural viability.

Rural Development in Finland: Revival of a Natural Resource Sectors Perspective

Cumulative economic forces drive societal structures toward centralization, more intensive primary production, and unbalanced regional development. Ongoing structural change has accentuated the disparity between lagging and prosperous Finnish rural areas and altered the role of natural resource sectors. Along with their primary task of providing society with food, renewable energy, and raw materials for construction, alternative forms of products and services, as well as improving attractiveness of rural areas as places of residence, work, and recreation, can be exploited in securing rural viability and in attenuating disparity among rural areas. This article reviews the development in Finland in the light of available statistical data. The potential of the natural resource sectors to contribute to endogenous rural development is discussed in the context of rural policy and natural resource strategies and by paying attention to the differences among rural areas.

Designing policies to mitigate the agricultural contribution to climate change: an assessment of soil based carbon sequestration and its ancillary effects

Soil carbon sequestration has been regarded as a cheap and cost-effective way to sequester carbon until other technologies to tackle climate change become available or more cost-effective. An assessment of the social desirability of a soil carbon sequestration policy requires the consideration of all associated social costs and benefits. Measures to re-accumulate carbon in soils have ancillary or co-effects on the environment that can be beneficial or detrimental to social welfare and few of which are traded in markets. This paper discusses issues related to the development of soil carbon sequestration policies into agri-environmental schemes and reports findings from an application of a choice experiment to elicit preferences and estimate benefits of a soil carbon programme in Scotland under consideration of co-effects on biodiversity and rural viability. Preferences for soil carbon based mitigation are found to be heterogeneous and related to beliefs about climate change and attitudes towards its mitigation. Benefit estimates suggest that including co-effects can significantly change the outcome of cost–benefit tests. Implications for the development of climate change policies are discussed.

College Students’ View of Biotechnology Products and Practices in Sustainable Agriculture Systems

Sustainable agriculture implies the use of products and practices that sustain production, protect the environment, ensure economic viability, and maintain rural community viability. Disagreement exists as to whether or not the products and practices of modern biotechnology support agricultural sustainability. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the views of college students enrolled in a sustainable agriculture course related to the acceptability of biotechnology products and practices in sustainable agricultural systems and (2) if their views changed after completing the course. Repeated course exposure to the concepts of sustainability, as well as brief overviews of biotechnology-related topics, provided students with a chance to express their views as they completed homework and exams and participated in discussions. Students completed survey instruments at the beginning and end of the course that assessed their understanding and/or perceptions. In general, students thought that biotechnology products and practices were beneficial to agriculture's sustainability efforts. They supported the use of genetically modified crops, and they did not believe that the products of biotechnology contributed appreciably to food allergy problems or environmental toxin levels. They believed that genetically engineered plants contributed to ecosystem health and sustainability. Students less comfortable with biotechnology noted problems with the decline in biodiversity, safety and reliability, patents, consumer acceptance issues, as well as other environmental, societal, and economic concerns. At the beginning of the course, students' responses bordered between a neutral view and rejection of any linkage between genetically engineered soybean usage and increasing environmental toxin levels, as well as linkages between genetically modified food and increasing prevalence of food allergies. They rejected both of those potential linkages at the end of the course. Students were neutral initially about organic farms as fully sustainable enterprises, but they rejected that notion later.

Farm management indicators and farm typologies as a basis for assessments in a changing policy environment

This paper focuses on the assessment of farm management indicators and argues that typologies are a necessary tool for comprehensive environmental assessments. In the paper Andersen et al., [(2004a). Farming and the Environment in the European Community—using agricultural statistics to provide farm management indicators. Paper presented at OECD Expert meeting, March 2004, New Zealand. 〈 http://webdomino1.oecd.org/comnet/agr/farmind.nsf/viewHtml/index/$FILE/Anderson_et_al.PDF〉 (1st of February 2006).] presented at the OECD expert meeting on farm management indicators in New Zealand in March 2004, a set of farm management indicators was presented in the framework of a typology of grazing livestock farming systems in the EU-15 (includes all Member States of the European Union before 2004). The present paper presents new results on farm management indicators within the framework of an extended typology for all farming sectors. It presents an environmentally oriented extension to the EU typology of farms currently used for assessing the situation of farming within the European Union. The extended typology is tested in relation to emerging policy issues such as environmental sustainability and rural viability by analysing some of the farm management indicators suggested in Andersen et al., [(2004a). Farming and the Environment in the European Community—using agricultural statistics to provide farm management indicators. Paper presented at OECD Expert meeting, March 2004, New Zealand. 〈 http://webdomino1.oecd.org/comnet/agr/farmind.nsf/viewHtml/index/$FILE/Anderson_et_al.PDF〉 (1st of February 2006).]. Finally, recommendations in relation to the next generation EU farm typology are given.

Opportunities and limitations in assessing the multifunctionality of agriculture within the CAPRI model

Abstract In recent years the objectives of agricultural policy have shifted from a principal focus on production and income towards agriculture's provision of public goods summarized by the term ‘multifunctionality’. Agricultural sector models, which are important tools for policy advice, need to be adjusted in order to maintain their relevance and reliability in accordance with policy changes. This paper investigates the strengths and limitations of incorporating multifunctionality indicators in the agricultural sector model Common Agricultural Policy Regional Impact Analysis (CAPRI) by reviewing the existing literature and incorporating such indicators in the model. Multifunctionality indicators are developed and implemented for four selected aspects of multifunctionality: food security, landscape, environmental concerns and rural viability. By running different policy reform scenarios, it is shown that indicators closely related to the underlying economic variables of the sector model may provide useful to describe the effects of policy reforms on agriculture's multifunctionality. However, these indicators do not completely cover the selected aspects of multifunctionality. In order to yield a broader coverage, this paper proposes to strengthen interdisciplinary research by linking agricultural sector models with other model systems like farm-based economical–ecological models, regional economic models or landscape information systems.

Korea's approach to non-trade concerns in the World Trade Organisation

Non-trade concerns (NTC) are legitimate issues for the WTO. Despite no technical definition being given, food security and environmental protection are referred to as NTC in the Agreement on Agriculture. Trade and policy implications for NTC are under discussion and regarded as the centrepiece of current negotiations. From Korea's perspective, this article identified food security, small-scale family farms, agricultural landscapes and rural viability as the country's key NTC. Based upon newly established concepts of staple or food security crops and the role of domestic production, food security is suggested to be incorporated into all areas of reform commitments. Small-scale family farms and rural viability are also examined within the provisions of the green box.

Qualitative analysis of the European Union members positions under the Common Agricultural Policy reform

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform in 2003 represents the entry into the third phase of the CAP. The final shape of the reform packet is a result of a compromise between external and internal interests of the EU members. The external interests, such as the liberalization of the agricultural trade under the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and EU enlargement, represented a common platform that in principle did not create a barrier between the member’s positions. On the other hand, internal interests of the members affected significantly their positions. The most important internal interests may be classified as follows: the EU budget spending, level of farm subsidies, effects of the reform on farm employment, farm income, rural viability, consumers, environment, food safety or animal welfare. Positions of the individual EU members were a function of the agricultural structures and competitiveness. Coalitions of the EU members were created during the reform negotiations: reform-liberal group, cohesion group, conservative group and the group of specific interests. Aims of the future members of the EU (10 candidate countries) in the reform were not to deteriorate their EU entry conditions and to guarantee equal treatment, comparable with that of the EU-15. The analysis of the EU member’s positions under the CAP 2003 reform is an inspiration for defining of the Czech Republic’s position, as a new member state, in the agricultural area.

Connecting environmental management and farm household livelihoods: The Rural Environment Protection Scheme in Ireland

This paper presents the relationship between an environmental protection scheme, established in Ireland in 1994 under EU Regulation No. 2078/92, and the livelihoods of Irish farm households. It explores this relationship within the framework of the new policy environment for EU agriculture and rural areas as set out in Agenda 2000. At the centre of this new policy environment is the European model for agriculture, embodying the concept of multifunctionality, which recognizes the pivotal position of an evolving agricultural sector in enhancing the viability of rural areas through broadening the assets of farm families. Research undertaken with farm households in the west of Ireland indicates a positive relationship between the Rural Environmental Protection Scheme and the economic and natural assets upon which they build their livelihoods. The case of a small-scale dairy farm household is presented, showing clearly the positive impact of the scheme, while also highlighting the vulnerability of these improvements. A major challenge facing policy-makers is the extent to which acceptable levels of income and an enhanced natural environment on such farms can be sustained. The position of advisory and research institutions in strengthening human capacities on farms is highlighted and their enhanced role is suggested in order to give meaning to multifunctional and sustainable agriculture within the context of rural area viability. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.