The authors define the rural economy not as a functional entity but as a complex, open system, the analysis of which requires an interdisciplinary approach oriented to the study of processes and interactions. This evolutionary perspective is illustrated by two generic studies of rural issues: the role played by the postwar planning regime in the definition and management of rural space in Britain; and the connection between agricultural development and the reproduction of farm structures. The understanding of sustainable development which emerges calls for a holistic and responsive approach to rural policy formulation.
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