Exploring the perspectives of a mixed case study approach for the evaluation of the EU Rural Development Policy 2007-2013

For the evaluation of the EU Rural Development Policy in the programming period 2007-2013, the European Commission has designed a Common Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (CMEF). Given a widespread lack of enthusiasm and the complexity of the CMEF, in this paper a comparative analysis of 22 evaluation methods of rural development policy is conducted in order to explore whether an alternative approach for the evaluation of the EU Rural Development Policy exists. The mixed case study approach is identified as potential alternative. This approach combines the analysis of data on input and output with in-depth interviews. First results of testing this method in the mid-term evaluation of the EU Rural Development Policy 2007-2009 in the Dutch NUTS2 region of Zeeland indicate that this approach might be a promising alternative to the CMEF. It is easier to implement and renders useful insight into the question why measures have been effective.Evaluation methods, EU Rural Development Policy, mixed case-study approach, Agricultural and Food Policy, R500, R580,

Regional Concentration and Specialisation in Agricultural Activities in EU-9 Regions (1950-2000)

Both traditional (von Thünen) and modern (Hayami & Ruttan, Krugman) theories on land use suggest that productions with a high value added per unit of land tend to be located near urban centres. In this article it is tested to what extent these theoretical findings are confirmed by empirical data on agricultural land use and production for the EU-9. The focus is not only on the degree of concentration and specialisation, but also on their development over time. Growth and decline of agricultural productions are here related to the degree of rurality. It is found that high value productions indeed tend to be located in urban regions. It is also found that most specialisation patterns that already existed in 1950 are even stronger in 2000

Rural regions in the EU: exploring differences in economic development

Search for driving forces behind economic development in rural regions of the EU From a recent OECD analysis, it appeared that there were dynamic rural regions which showed an employment performance above the national average during the 1980s, and that there were also rural regions whose employment growth lagged behind. This observation directly prompts the following question: why do some rural regions show a higher employment performance than others? Can the sectoral mix of employment explain these differences? Or are these differences mainly the result of factors like local resources, natural and cultural amenities, entrepreneurial tradition, work ethics, public or private networks? This study aims to provide answers to this question by giving a thorough analysis of how economic development theories conceptualize the driving forces behind economic development in rural regions. The insights achieved in this analysis can help policy makers in the design of strategies towards encouraging economic development in rural regions. In order to achieve this aim, the focus of this study will be on the following four objectives: a Analysis of regional economic growth theories, which can be used for the explanation of economic development in rural regions in the EU; b Analysis of development trajectories in selected rural regions in the EU, and examination of applied development strategies in those regions; c Pattern-matching in order to analyze whether development trajectories identified under (b) accord with one or more of the theories discussed under (a); d Design of a guideline for economic development strategies for rural regions in the EU. Rural regions are the basic research units in this study. These can be described in terms of a territorial unit with one or more small or medium sized cities surrounded by large areas of open space, with a regional economy and with a relatively low population density. Usually, the size of a rural region reflects that of a labour market area. By examining the debates in the multidisciplinary field of rural studies and in regional economics, we compose an overview of theories on economic development in rural regions. From this overview we will select a number of theories for further analysis. We use the method of ‘pattern-matching’ to test whether these theories predict the development trajectories in 18 case studies in rural regions in the EU. As case studies we used those which were carried out in the scope of the RUREMPLO project. Based on the findings of the pattern-matching and the experiences in the case study regions, we formulate recommendations for economic development strategies for rural regions in the EU. Finally, this study is restricted to economic developments since the beginning of the 1980s.

TOWARDS REGIONAL DIFFERENTIATION OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN THE EU

In this study a comparative analysis of the Rural Development Plans (RDPs) in four intermediate rural regions (Northern Netherlands, Lower Saxony, Wales and Emilia Romagna) and four most urban regions (Southern Netherlands, North Rhine-Westphalia, Flanders and Lombardia) is made. Such plans are designed in the scope of the second pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In particular, the focus was on the question whether the menu approach of the second pillar enables EU member states and regions to design Rural Development Plans with a tailor-made set of measures which address their specific rural development needs. The findings of this study suggest that the current menu of rural development measures is sufficient to suit the wide range of socio-economic, ecological and physical circumstances in the EU regions. The analysis also revealed that there is some overlap between the three rural development priorities of the second pillar. Therefore, an outline of future rural development priorities and measures in the EU is designed, in which it is attempted to avoid overlap between the various rural development priorities and in which each measure contributes to the achievement of one development priority only. In addition, it is proposed that regions would select only those measures in their Rural Development Plan which really address the rural development needs in their region, even if this results in a Rural Development Plan with only one or two rural development measures. Such an approach of selecting rural development measures according to regional needs will result in a large variation in rural development measures implemented and may be considered regional differentiation of EU rural development policy.Agricultural and Food Policy,

ALTERNATIVE FUTURES OF RURAL AREAS IN THE EU: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF SCENARIO STUDIES

What does rural Europe look like in 2030? Is agriculture still the main land user? In recent years, studies such as ESPON, Eururalis, SCENAR2020, SENSOR, SEAMLESS and PRELUDE have tried to address these questions. These studies resulted in a number of alternative futures of rural areas in the EU. In this paper a comparative analysis of these scenario studies is made in order to explore differences and similarities in the scenarios and alternative futures of rural areas in the EU. For this purpose, we designed a scheme for assessing the properties of the various scenarios and a scheme for a systematic description of the rural futures according to the scenarios. It appears that most scenario studies use a baseline scenario and a set of alternative scenarios with different degrees of policy regulation. Agriculture will continue to be a main land user in 2030, although some land abandonment will take place.Rural Europe, scenario studies, alternative futures, land-use, territorial disparities, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Rural areas under urban pressure; Case studies of rural-urban relationships

This report presents the results of the European research project on building new relationships in rural areas under urban pressure (RURBAN). The analysis identifies the impact of urban pressure on rural landscapes and the contribution of rural goods and services (RGS) to enhance the rural landscape in Finland, France, Hungary, the Netherlands and Spain. In each country, two case study regions have been selected: a rural area near a metropolitan area and a rural area near a tourist seashore area. Despite the divergent perceptions; of urban pressure, there is an increasing interest in enhancing sustainable territorial rural-urban relationships and integrating the supply of public and private RGS.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Distribution of CAP pillar 1 payments to farmers in the EU

During this study, an analysis was conducted of the distribution of direct payments from the first pillar of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) to farmers in the EU28. This distribution has been shown to be uneven: in 2015, 81% of EU farmers received 20% of the payments. Farms that receive few payments are usually smaller than those that receive higher payments. The uneven distribution of direct payments is caused by the fact that the group of farmers with small farms in the EU28 is much larger than the group with large farms

Verdeling van de toeslagen van de eerste pijler van het GLB over landbouwbedrijven in de EU

In deze studie is een analyse gemaakt van de verdeling van de toeslagen van de eerste pijler van het Gemeenschappelijk landbouwbeleid over landbouwbedrijven in de EU28. Deze verdeling laat een onevenwichtig beeld zien: in 2015 ontving 81% van de EU-boeren 20% van de toeslagen. Landbouwbedrijven die weinig toeslagen ontvangen hebben doorgaans minder hectares dan bedrijven die veel toeslagen ontvangen. De onevenwichtige verdeling van toeslagen ontstaat doordat de groep boeren met weinig hectares in de EU28 veel groter is dan de groep met veel hectares