Insights on Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Tourism, Regions and Cities
During this end-of-year period as most of us consider what we can do better in 2023, policy makers are also thinking about how to create a better future for rural citizens. It’s hugely important in the aftermath of COVID-19 and the rapid economic, ecological, demographic and geopolitical changes that are underway in rural communities.
Yet innovation in rural places tends to follow a different path – focusing on improving production processes, business models or social innovations that are not uniquely profit-driven.
Despite decades of national progress, rural communities still have difficulty in accessing modern education and health services. In education, about a quarter of primary schools in the world did not have access to basic services such as electricity, drinking water and sanitation in 2020.
Populations in rural regions are ageing and declining faster than in urban areas in OECD countries, especially in remote rural areas. While these shifts bring clear challenges, they also bring somewhat unexpected opportunities. How can governments make the most of them to boost prospects for rural communities?
Dr. Richard Florida encourages cities and regions to consider how diversity, creativity and innovation can contribute to attracting creative talent and investment, and shape inclusive and sustainable development. He then unpacks how non-metropolitan areas can benefit from a greater influx of creative people and capital, especially in the wake of the pandemic.
As global energy prices rise as a result of war in Ukraine, the switch to renewable energy has taken on a new urgency. With ambitious new targets to cut reliance on Russian fossil-fuel imports and increase energy security, what will the transition mean for rural communities? How can they make the most of it?
Two years after the onset of COVID-19, the future of work remains a topic of lively, even heated, debate. Early in the pandemic, some were quick to announce the demise of the centre-city office. The apparent success of remote work, they said, would lead to a revival of the suburbs, exurbs, and rural areas, with “work hubs” popping up as needed.
Mining regions face acute challenges in terms of well-being. National plans and policies alone will not bring well-being gains to mining communities.