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Rethinking Rural Development
Author(s) -
Ashley Caroline,
Maxwell Simon
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
development policy review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.671
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1467-7679
pISSN - 0950-6764
DOI - 10.1111/1467-7679.00141
Subject(s) - poverty , diversification (marketing strategy) , rural development , economic growth , rural poverty , rural economics , rural sociology , agriculture , rural history , corporate governance , rural area , rural economy , political science , rural management , development economics , economics , business , geography , finance , archaeology , marketing , law
Rural development has been central to the development effort, but rural poverty persists and funding is falling: a new narrative is needed. This overview article describes a Washington Consensus on Food, Agriculture and Rural Development, and summarises from the various contributions here the elements of a post‐Washington Consensus. Rural areas are changing, particularly with respect to demography, diversification, and strengthening links to national and global economies. Key issues include: agriculture as the engine of rural development; the future viability of small farms; the potential of the non‐farm rural economy; the challenges of new thinking on poverty, participation and governance; and implementation problems. The article concludes with five general principles and ten specific recommendations for the future of rural development.