Rural economics is the study of rural

economies An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services. In general, it is defined as a social domain that emphasize the practices, discourses, and material expressions associated with ...

. Rural economies include both

agricultural Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created f ...

and non-agricultural industries, so rural economics has broader concerns than agricultural economics which focus more on food systems.

Rural development Rural development is the process of improving the quality of life, quality of life and economic well-being of people living in rural areas, often relatively isolated and sparsely populated areas. Often, rural regions have experienced rural povert ...

and finance attempt to solve larger challenges within rural economics. These economic issues are often connected to the migration from rural areas due to lack of economic activities and

rural poverty Rural poverty refers to situations where people living in rural area, non-urban regions are in a poverty, state or condition of lacking the financial resources and essentials for living. It takes account of factors of Rural sociology, rural so ...

. Some interventions have been very successful in some parts of the world, with

rural electrification Rural electrification is the process of bringing electrical power to rural and remote areas. Rural communities are suffering from colossal market failures as the national grids fall short of their demand for electricity. As of 2019, 770 million ...

and rural tourism providing anchors for transforming economies in some rural areas. These challenges often create rural-urban income disparities. Rural spaces add new challenges for economic analysis that require an understanding of

economic geography Economic geography is the subfield of human geography that studies economic activity and factors affecting it. It can also be considered a subfield or method in economics. Economic geography takes a variety of approaches to many different topi ...

: for example understanding of size and spatial distribution of production and household units and interregional trade,

land use Land use is an umbrella term to describe what happens on a parcel of land. It concerns the benefits derived from using the land, and also the land management actions that humans carry out there. The following categories are used for land use: fo ...

, and how low population density effects government policies as to development, investment, regulation, and transportation.• John W. Mellor (2008). "agriculture and economic development", ''The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics'', 2nd Edition
Abstract.
br />   • Christopher B. Barrett and Emelly Mutambatsere (2008). "agricultural markets in developing countries", ''The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics'', 2nd Edition
Abstract.
br />   • Karla Hoff, Avishay Braverman, and Joseph E. Stiglitz, ed. (1993). ''Economics of Rural Organization: Theory, Practice and Policy''. Oxford University Press for the World Bank.
   • William A. Galston and Karen Baehler (1995). ''Rural Development in the United States: Connecting Theory, Practice, and Possibilities''. Wash., D.C.: Island Press
Description
and TO
link.
br />   • Alan Okagaki, Kris Palmer, and Neil S. Mayer (1998). ''Strengthening Rural Economics''. Wash., D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development

an
PDF
(press +).

Issues

Rural development

Electrification

Rural flight

Rural poverty

Important sectors

Agriculture

Peasantry

Tourism

See also

References

Further reading