Bridging the rural-urban divide: addressing inequalities and empowering communities
- Rural Pact
- Rural Revitalisation Platform
- Stronger Rural Areas
- Connected rural areas
- Resilient rural areas
- Prosperous rural areas
- Rural-urban linkages
- Social inclusion
- Employment
- Education and training
- Digital
- Access to services
- Demography
- Governance
- Democracy and participation
This Eurofound research report examines inequalities between rural and urban areas across Europe and their implications for territorial and social cohesion. It analyses differences in economic and living conditions, employment opportunities, human capital and digital skills, alongside less tangible dimensions such as recognition, cultural attitudes, political participation, trust in institutions and satisfaction with democracy. It also examines rural-urban differences in access to public services and examples of innovative approaches to service delivery.
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Author: Eurofound (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions)
Publication: October 2023
The report finds that significant rural-urban disparities persist. On average, urban incomes and employment rates are higher, while rural areas have a higher share of young people not in employment, education or training and lower levels of tertiary educational attainment. It also identifies a digital divide: rural residents are less likely to have digital skills or own a computer and tend to have slower internet connections. At the same time, some disadvantages are more pronounced in urban areas, including housing cost overburden, pollution and crime.
Beyond socioeconomic indicators, the report explores what it calls a ‘recognition gap’. Rural residents are more likely to feel that they or their communities are mistreated, disrespected or ignored by government. The analysis also finds lower levels of trust in governments and the EU and lower satisfaction with democracy among rural residents. These findings illustrate how territorial inequalities can affect perceptions of belonging, representation and social cohesion.
The report places particular emphasis on access to public services. It finds that rural-urban gaps in service provision are increasing, with demographic decline and ageing creating additional challenges in rural areas. It examines innovative responses being implemented across Member States, including tele-health, re-purposing abandoned buildings and approaches to public transport.
Why it is useful for rural areas
The report provides an extensive evidence base for understanding rural-urban inequalities and designing more territorially sensitive policies. Its policy pointers include prioritising education and training in rural communities; ensuring high-speed broadband; using digital solutions to improve access to public services; maintaining good-quality services across territories; and improving childcare, physical and digital infrastructure and cultural amenities to make rural areas more attractive to working-age people.
Importantly, it also stresses the need to amplify rural voices and involve rural communities in development plans, alongside better territorial data to account for the diversity of challenges within and between different types of area. It argues that successful approaches to innovative rural service provision should be shared, scaled up or adapted to other territorial contexts.
Who is this resource for?
The report is particularly useful for EU, national, regional and local policymakers; rural and territorial development authorities; public service providers; researchers; civil society and rural organisations; and stakeholders working on cohesion, demographic change, social inclusion and rural development.
About the organisation
Eurofound is a tripartite EU agency established in 1975. Its role is to provide knowledge to support the development of social, employment and work-related policies in the European Union.
Rural Pact resources on rural-urban linkages
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