Diversity, Disparity and Territorial Resilience in the Context of the Economic Crisis: An Analysis of Rural Areas in Southern Spain

This paper analyses territorial resilience in rural Andalusia, Spain, after the impact of the recent economic crisis and identifies the factors associated with the highest recovery rates in different contexts and territories. To this end, we developed a methodology that incorporates the heterogeneity and diversity of rural territories and uses composite indices calculated using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in order to measure levels of resilience and identify the factors that impact recovery in rural counties. The results reveal how different aspects of economic, social, human, and natural capital promote resilient territorial dynamics in rural Andalusia. These results provide useful information for political decision-makers in the design of public policies, especially at a time like the present when the EU is immersed in debate on the reform of rural development policies for the next programming period beyond 2020

Territorial Cohesión in Rural Areas: An Analysis of Determinants in the Post‐Economic Crisis Context

One of the main consequences of the impacts of the past economic and financial crisis, which began in 2007–2008, has been the increase in inequalities between countries, regions, and territories of the EU. In the rural sphere, these disparities are not only observed in an urban–rural dichotomy, but are also evident between rural–rural territories. In this context, it is relevant to develop research based on the concept of territorial cohesion aimed at overcoming the development challenges faced by different types of rural territories. This paper addresses the empirical analysis of territorial cohesion in the rural areas of Andalusia (Spain), one of the European regions most affected by the economic crisis. To this effect, a methodology was designed that measures the level of territorial cohesion of different types of rural territories and identifies the factors that influence this cohesion in each case. The results show that factors such as employment and innovation, economic diversification, availability of natural resources and environmental quality, or information and communication technologies (ICTs) contribute to territorial cohesion in rural areas

An Approach on Integrated Territorial Competitiveness to Ensure Long Term Viability in Rural Areas of Andalusia (Spain)

After more than ten years of rural development programmes in Andalusia, there is ongoing concern about the sustainability of the rural development initiated by the LEADER-PRODER programmes in the hypothetical event that such programmes were no longer in place. In order to be able to express an opinion about this issue, it is important to answer to an entire series of questions about the concept of territorial competitiveness as a guarantee of the long term viability of a rural area. In order to be able to respond to these questions, as part of a wider research project into the transformation of rural areas in Andalusia, the competitive position of 3 territories in the "Campina Alta" (Cordoba), which have been benefiting from rural development programmes for several years, were analysed. This paper presents some of our results relating to territorial competitiveness. The analysis were chiefly qualitative, and was applied to the "case study" abovementioned. The methodology used is based fundamentally on the analysis proposal of territorial competitiveness provided by the European Observatory, supplemented with elements of the methodology proposed by the IICA. The results indicate: 1) one cannot generalise about whether certain factors in isolation are positive or negative for territorial competitiveness, 2) only a comprehensive approach to territorial competitiveness can guarantee the long term viability of a rural area and 3) the risks associated when the viability of the territory is linked to the existence of development programmes, whose presence is not guaranteed for the future.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

El desarrollo rural en la unión europea: el concepto y la política

El medio rural es un elemento fundamental que vertebra social y económicamente el territorio europeo y configura su paisaje. Los intensos cambios que pueden observarse en la consideración de lo rural en la Unión Europea (UE) permiten afirmar que la ruralidad es un concepto en evolución, pudiéndose diferenciar tres etapas: lo rural como imagen, como localidad y como construcción social. La evolución del concepto tiene su reflejo en la necesaria adaptación del enfoque utilizado para abordar la problemática rural, y como consecuencia en el diseño político de apoyo a estos territorios. Bajo el término de Desarrollo Rural la UE ha ido incluyendo asuntos muy dispares, apoyándolos con medidas e instrumentos financieros igualmente heterogéneos. Para el objetivo de apoyar al mundo rural han confluido las dos grandes políticas: la agraria y la regional, por lo que la Política de Desarrollo Rural ha venido navegando entre lo sectorial y lo territorial. En un momento de redefinición de las prioridades políticas europeas a partir del 2013, cohesión territorial, articulación rural/urbana, concertación social, cooperación institucional, sostenibilidad ambiental y gobernanza, son elementos fundamentales para una política que se plantee garantizar la continuidad de un medio rural vivo, habitable y respetuoso con el medio ambiente

An Analysis of the Impact of Forest Policy on Rural Areas of Chile

The relationship between the forest sector and the well-being of people that depend on it for their economic livelihoods in rural areas is of strong interest in forest policy. In this sense, Chile has developed a forest policy that has had positive impacts, particularly on economic and productive aspects, but also negative impacts, such as the reduction of natural forest area, biodiversity, and provision of ecosystem services, as well as the increase in social conflicts and land abandonment. However, there are few studies that have evaluated the impacts of forest policy on rural population and development of the territory. Therefore, the objective of this research is to evaluate the impacts of Chilean forest policy on rural communities, particularly in terms of demographic variables and indicators of community well-being. The study area corresponds to the Bio Bio and Ñuble Regions (Chile), and the analysis includes productive, demographic, socioeconomic, and educational characteristics of population. The results show that the forestry policy implemented was able to generate a significant increase in the proportion of forest area. However, when this increase is mainly of the type of exotic forest plantations, it is associated with a demographic and socio-economic detriment of the population in some counties of the study area

Andalucía y la UE: balance económico de quince años de adhesión

La incorporación de España a la Unión Europea ha tenido efectos positivos muy claros sobre su sistema económico y social. El análisis de estos efectos tiene especial interés cuando se realiza a escala de sus regiones. Debido al alto grado de descentralización administrativa del Estado español, el papel de los gobiernos regionales en el proceso de modernización de las estructuras aporta a cada caso unas condiciones y un ritmo diferente. Andalucía, como región retrasada con fuertes déficits y limitaciones ha sido el destino prioritario de los fondos estructurales que han llegado a España desde la adhesión. En este trabajo se ofrece una panorámica de los principales aspectos económicos que la adhesión de España a la UE ha tenido sobre la región andaluza. Entre estos aspectos se analizan las transferencias recibidas, así como la evolución de la producción regional y sectorial, la del empleo y la del consumo. Finalmente, se presenta un análisis de la convergencia de la región como síntesis de los efectos de las cuestiones anteriores

Sustainability evaluation of olive oil mills in Andalusia (Spain): a study based on composite indicators

In recent times, the need for food systems that, in addition to being economically viable and socially equitable, use environmentally friendly production processes has made sustainable production one of the olive oil sector's main concerns and priorities. In this context, evaluation of the economic, social and environmental performance of olive oil companies and the design of sustainable management alternatives have become fundamental activities for companies. Thus, this article's main objective is to measure the sustainability of a representative sample of olive mills located in Andalusia (Spain), the leading olive oil-producing region internationally, and to identify its determinants. First, based on data envelopment analysis, synthetic sustainability indices are constructed. Second, truncated regression analysis and bootstrapping techniques are used to identify the determinants of the sustainability of olive oil mills. The results show that factors such as company size, commitment to quality, and manager training and professionalisation are crucial elements for the sustainable development of olive oil mills. These results can be useful for company managers in the design of strategies aimed at improving company sustainability

An Analysis of Irrigation Organizations in Colombia through the Prism of Collective Action

The objective of this article is to deepen the knowledge of collective action in irrigation organizations in Colombia, by identifying the limitations of the members for their organizational work and the variables of context that determine collective behavior. Human and environmental factors have not been sufficiently considered in public irrigation policies, since, in the case of Colombia, these have focused almost exclusively on the physical infrastructure. The methodology develops a qualitative approach based on an ethnographic and quantitative study of the socioeconomic characteristics of irrigation users. The results allow us to affirm that the collective awareness of water is a common good. The vision of the associates about the associative work, the conformation and structuring of the organizations, the nature of the established agreements, and the socio-economic, environmental, and political environment of the organizations studied, are determining factors of their collective action and, therefore, should be taken into account in public policies of associative irrigation

The need for extra-agrarian peasant strategies as a means of survival in marginal rural communities in Mexico

The Mexican agrarian sector is currently facing a series of structural problems that have a direct impact on the potential of agricultural activities that provide rural families with food and economic livelihoods, particularly to those living in marginal rural commu- nities. A total of 132 interviews were conducted with farmers from marginal commu- nities in central Mexico. From the total, 64.2% had decreased their agricultural activity in order to engage in other activities and increase their income. Ninety-four percent (94.7%) of families spend between 50 and 100% of their income on food. The binomial logit model determined that there was a 95.4% probability of a family member securing employment outside the peasant production unit. Despite this, family income does not cover basic requirements satisfactorily. In the current context, peasants are subjected to food poverty and income instability. As a result, they look for livelihood options outside the agricultural activities that only allow them to subsist. It is highly probable that peasant families will continue to implement a variety of survival strategies with increasing frequency, to the detriment of Mexican family units and rural communities. Highlights The structural reforms conducted in the Mexican agrarian sector put at risk the life opportunities of small farmers. Peasants in marginal rural communities are forced to design survival strategies beyond agricultural activities. Factors related to the structure of the production unit, the characteristics of the head of the family, the production and destination of basic grains, and the government support payments, influence the probability of seeking employment outside the production unit. Complementary activities outside the peasant production unit do not enable small farmers to meet their food and other basic needs satisfactorily. It is necessary to advance in the design of more flexible and democratic public support schemes to address the specific problems presented by Mexican small farmers and peasants.The Mexican agrarian sector is currently facing a series of structural problems that have a direct impact on the potential of agricultural activities that provide rural families with food and economic livelihoods, particularly to those living in marginal rural commu- nities. A total of 132 interviews were conducted with farmers from marginal commu- nities in central Mexico. From the total, 64.2% had decreased their agricultural activity in order to engage in other activities and increase their income. Ninety-four percent (94.7%) of families spend between 50 and 100% of their income on food. The binomial logit model determined that there was a 95.4% probability of a family member securing employment outside the peasant production unit. Despite this, family income does not cover basic requirements satisfactorily. In the current context, peasants are subjected to food poverty and income instability. As a result, they look for livelihood options outside the agricultural activities that only allow them to subsist. It is highly probable that peasant families will continue to implement a variety of survival strategies with increasing frequency, to the detriment of Mexican family units and rural communities. Highlights The structural reforms conducted in the Mexican agrarian sector put at risk the life opportunities of small farmers. Peasants in marginal rural communities are forced to design survival strategies beyond agricultural activities. Factors related to the structure of the production unit, the characteristics of the head of the family, the production and destination of basic grains, and the government support payments, influence the probability of seeking employment outside the production unit. Complementary activities outside the peasant production unit do not enable small farmers to meet their food and other basic needs satisfactorily. It is necessary to advance in the design of more flexible and democratic public support schemes to address the specific problems presented by Mexican small farmers and peasants

The Leader Methodology and rural depopulation: The case of the Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros county (Badajoz)

[ES] Este artículo analiza la contribución de la metodología LEADER  para combatir el problema de la despoblación en la comarca de  Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros (Badajoz). Para ello, se analiza y prioriza el riesgo de despoblación de cada municipio de la comarca, y se estudia la pertinencia, eficacia y eficiencia de las ayudas  LEADER en relación al objetivo de fijar población. Los resultados  obtenidos reflejan que, si bien la metodología LEADER ha sido útil  para afrontar el reto de la despoblación, su aplicación no es  suficiente para asegurar un horizonte de viabilidad de los municipios con mayores problemas demográficos.[EN] This article analyses the contribution of LEADER methodology to address the problem of depopulation in Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros county (Badajoz). To this end, the risk of depopulation of each territorial entity is analysed and prioritised, and the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of LEADER aids in their contribution to population setting are studied. The results obtained show that, although LEADER methodology has been useful in facing the challenge of depopulation, its application is not enough to ensure a horizon of viability for the municipalities with the greatest demographic problems.Miranda García, M.; Gallardo-Cobos, R.; Sánchez-Zamora, P. (2020). La Metodología Leader y la despoblación rural: el caso de la comarca de Sierra Grande-Tierra de Barros (Badajoz). Economía Agraria y Recursos Naturales - Agricultural and Resource Economics. 19(2):09-28. https://doi.org/10.7201/earn.2019.02.01OJS092819