Spatial Aspects of Rural Development

Traditional economic theory has Ignored the spatial aspects of rural development This article reviews literature which focuses on the functional relationships between geographic space and rural development Spatial considerations affect the size and location of individual firms They also affect geographic patterns of economic activity and the formation of regions Three empirical approaches to regionalization are reviewed-administrative. homogeneous, and functional Rurality is defined according to concepts of central place, hinterland. and hierarchy Much of the literature of regional economic development represents an urban point of view. but some represents a rural point of view and indicates that the development of a rural area depends partly on factors affecting location and regionalization