Open AccessDevelopment opportunities for rural areas of Serbia
Author(s) -
Stanislav Zekić,
Bojan Matkovski
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
zbornik matice srpske za društvene nauke/zbornik matice srpske za društvene nauke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2406-0836
pISSN - 0352-5732
DOI - 10.2298/zmsdn1553757z
Subject(s) - backwardness , accession , diversification (marketing strategy) , agriculture , economic growth , rural area , population , rural development , rural economics , business , geography , economics , economic policy , european union , political science , demography , archaeology , marketing , sociology , law
The large regional diversity, economic backwardness, unfavourable demographic trends as well as the dependence of agricultural production, represent the main characteristics of rural areas in Serbia. Halting further socio-economic decline of the village is possible only through the restoration of economic capacity, which is to a greater extent achievable through the development of non-agricultural activities. Diversification of income and activities of rural households would raise the quality of life for the rural population, especially in terms of income positions, while infrastructural improvement and development of the service sector, to some extent, would be a consequence of this process and a clearly formulated national rural policy. That policy in Serbia should be in line with the ?European? model, where the focus is shifting from sectoral to regional approach and significant support for the achievement of the set goals represent the pre-accession EU funds.