Figures & Facts about the Economy in Rural Areas

Background and Objective

Comprehensive knowledge about economics in rural areas constitutes an important foundation for policymaking aimed at rural development. It also contributes to an understanding of rural areas in the public sphere. To this end, we regularly publish issues of the series "Figures & Facts about the Economy in Rural Areas," which can be subscribed to as a newsletter. In each issue, we highlight a current topic related to the economy in rural areas. Supported by current research findings from our institute, we describe selected facts  in a concise and illustrative manner. Insights from multi-year research projects of the scientists at the Thünen Institute of Rural Economics are compiled, summarized, and made accessible to the general public. Thus, our newsletter provides regular information updates on the economy in rural areas.

Our goal is to make important research findings easily accessible and to disseminate information on various aspects of economic and labor market conditions in rural areas among the (specialist) public.

Target Group

By compiling and presenting figures and facts about the economy in rural areas, we primarily address decision-makers in politics and administration as well as representatives of the media. However, the series is explicitly open to all interested parties due to its broad orientation.

Approach

As part of this project, the respective experts from our institute spotlight selected topics. They prepare core findings from their research in an easily understandable manner and summarize them succinctly and vividly. In addition to the topic-specific editions, we present key figures on the economic development of rural areas once a year.

Data and Methods

Our analyses are based on data from the national accounts of the countries as well as on various datasets that we compile and analyze in the context of our research projects on different topics. In this project, we primarily apply methods of descriptive statistics.

Our Research Questions

What are the economic and labor market conditions in rural areas, and how do they change over time?

In what ways do rural areas differ from densely populated regions concerning key indicators of economic conditions?

How significant are the differences between rural regions, and how do they evolve over time?

Preliminary Results

The publications developed in the project series "Figures & Facts about the Economy in Rural Areas" are sent out quarterly as email newsletters. If you are interested, you can subscribe by emailing wi-zahlen&fakten@thuenen.de. As a continuous contribution to monitoring rural areas, the December issue presents time-series developments of important statistical indicators. In this way, the series provides a targeted analysis of the current economic situation in rural areas and its development.

Links and Downloads

The current issue can be found here:

www.thuenen.de/de/fachinstitute/laendliche-raeume/innovation-und-wertschoepfung-in-laendlichen-raeumen/zahlen-und-fakten