Substudy 18: Elements of Growth Policy for the Rural Area

The key feature distinguishing the rural from urban and integrated spaces is the former's low population density. This creates specific disadvantages such as long transport routes and a low concentration of economic activities. Among the strategies that can boost rural growth are raising the labour participation rate, especially among women, improving educational opportunities and the quality of the touristic offer, and the decentralised provision of sustainable raw materials. A prerequisite is ensuring a sufficient supply of infrastructure to enable the decentralised and effective use of modern communication and information technologies.