© 1986 Oxford University Press and the Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics
research-article |
Fed. Rep. of Germany: Rural development under federal government
Institut für Landwirtschaftliche Betriebslehre Regional und Umweltpolitik, Justus-Liebig Universität, Giessen F. R.G.
Summary
The development of rural areas should include the promotion of industry, infrastructure and services as well as the conservation of the productivity and efficiency of the natural system, which should be assessed as an ecological potential of rural areas. Starting from this definition, the article is an attempt to review the theoretical conceptions, main problems and planning activities concerned with rural development considering the institutional framework in the Federal Republic of Germany. The discussion of the main conceptions covers categories of region, the point-axial system, the concept of balanced regions and priority areas, including a view on integrated versus sectoral strategies of development. The decrease of population, weakness of the labour market, development of the agrarian structure and natural resources describe the main problems of rural areas. The delimitation of rural areas and the analysis and evaluation of the development process are outlined to give examples for research activities. The institutional framework of rural development is determined by the federal and hierarchical organisation of regional policy and the division of responsibility between different authorities and planning levels.