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Rural Regions in the EU: Exploring Differences in Economic Development

Posted on: Tuesday, 27 January 2004, 06:00 CST

Rural Regions in the EU: Exploring Differences in Economic Development. By IDA J. TERLUIN Utrecht: Netherlands Geographical Studies 289, 2001, 265 pp. Dfl 45.00 (pbk) ISBN 90 6809 324X

Ida Terluin's research monograph addresses an apparently simple research question, namely: 'which theory, or theories, can we use to explain (variable) economic development in rural regions?'. The intellectual journey made in answering the research question yields a complex and innovative methodology and conclusions that will stimulate debate. The monograph reproduces the author's PhD thesis and arises from a collaborative, European Commission-funded, research programme (RUREMPLO).

There are three main parts to the study: (1) identifying relevant economic growth theories to be tested; (2) constructing empirical databases to measure development trajectories in selected rural regions within the European Union (EU); and (3) 'pattern matching' regional development trajectories with different theories. These three parts are supported with chapters on general socio-economic trends in the rural regions of the EU, an explanation of the methodology, and recommendations for rural development policymakers. There is also a limited bibliography but no index.

Four groups of theories are identified and explained: traditional models (neo-classical growth theory, export base theory); pure agglomeration models (growth pole theory, Myrdal's cumulative causation theory, Kilkenny's relationship of transport costs and rural development); local milieu models (community-led rural development theory, Bryden's theory on the potentials of immobile resources, the creative destruction model of community development); and territorial innovation models (mixed exogenous/endogenous approaches, theory of innovative milieu, Porter's theory on the competitive advantage of nations, Illeris' inductive theory of regional development). This section alone is worthy of attention by students and researchers of rural development. In common with other chapters in the monograph, the writing is at all times accessible and supported by diagrams, tables and maps.

Seven theories are selected for further testing, using a set of 18 case study rural regions located throughout the EU, but excluding the United Kingdom and Ireland. The rationale for selecting this particular set of mixed 'leading' and 'lagging' NUTS2 and NUTS3 administrative regions is not explained and constitutes a significant limitation for generalizing the conclusions of the study. For the analysis, regional non-agricultural employment growth between the 1980s and 1990s is used as a proxy for economic development; 29 independent variables are measured, using a database created by the RUREMPLO research team, to test each theory across the case study regions. A considerable number of the variables act as proxies for theoretical hypotheses and this aspect of the methodology can also be questioned. Nevertheless the overall methodology is innovative.

The conclusion of the research is that the mixed exogenous/ endogenous approach, community-led development theory, and part of Bryden's theory are 'widely supported by empirical evidence' (p. 205) compared with other theories. Whether there is agreement or disagreement with the methodology that generates this conclusion, the monograph should be read by all those interested in rural development and policy.

IAN BOWLER, University of Leicester

Copyright Royal Geographical Society Dec 2003

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