en: News

Current transformation processes are significantly challenging economic dynamics in rural areas. In a new article in the journal “Ländliche Räume”, Jan Cornelius Peters and Christian Hundt show that the structural shift away from industry is gaining momentum, particularly affecting rural areas.

In an article published in the members’ magazine of the German Farmers' Association, "Deutsche Bauern Korrespondenz", Petrik Runst and Christian Bergholz address the question of how rural and urban areas differ in terms of their economic performance.

Cover of themembers’ magazine of the German Farmers' Association . „Deutsche Bauern Korrespondenz"

Against the backdrop of the upcoming redefinition of the funding areas for the Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures (GRW), the report examines the structural weaknesses of rural areas, taking into account various dimensions related to the GRW.

How does a tax on overnight stays affect German cities? Valentin Kissmann from the University of Göttingen presented a research project on this topic at the Thünen Institute of Rural Economics.

Valentin Kissman (left) and Jan Cornelius Peters

Women start businesses less often than men – but are catching up. This is shown in the report “Women Entrepreneurship Monitor 2024/2025” published today by the RKW Competence Center. Thünen researchers were also involved in the study.

Even in times of crisis, the rate of women starting businesses remains more stable than that of men.

Gesine Tuitjer presented the results of her research project on artists and cultural professionals as a resource for rural development at the State Culture Congress in Rendsburg.

Programm of the State Culture Congress Schleswig-Holstein

A conference at the French Ministry of Economy and Finance highlighted the opportunities and challenges of the energy transition using agri-photovoltaics as an example. More than 100 experts from France and Germany took part, including representatives of the Thünen Institute.

From October 14 to 16, 2025, Makerere University in Kampala (Uganda) hosted a PhD workshop under the umbrella of the project “Land Acquisitions and Rising Land Inequalities in Rural East Africa” (LARLIREA), with active participation from the Thünen Institute.

The study explains which organizations are driving the development of digital technologies in Germany and what influence their spatial environment has.

Cover of the Journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change

Co-edited by Christian Hundt, the new volume stemming from the Loccum conference examines how politics can improve the conditions for rural entrepreneurship—driving economic activity, innovation, and vital public services.