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Territorial Cohesion: Evaluating the Urban-Rural Linkage Through the Lens of Public Investments

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Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions (SSPCR 2017)

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

The paper deals with the significant issue of urban-rural linkage, concentrating on the less-developed regions of Europe, and in particular the case study of the Calabria Region (southern Italy). Despite the evolution of the urban-rural exchange, inner areas are facing economic, social and environmental problems, resulting in unemployment, depopulation, marginalization, disengagement or degradation of historic and architectural capital. Institutional bodies and policy makers, in particular at the local level, deal with the complexity of the choices that need to be faced, requiring the capacity to implement complex decision-making processes and tools capable of integrating the use of territorial resources, culture accessibility and social integration. Investigating the issues emerging from the academic literature and policy documents of the past 20 years, the paper presents the preliminary research step on the interpretation of the urban-rural dynamics through the lens of the 2007–2013 public investments made in this region. The preliminary results in terms of expenditure efficiency, private co-investments and geographical distribution highlight the need for an economic evaluation approach to support local authorities in addressing the challenge of the EU Territorial Agenda 2020.

The paper is the result of the joint work of the two authors. Scientific responsibility is attributable equally to Calabrò and Cassalia.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    According to MUVAL (2014), Inner Areas are areas at some considerable distance from hubs providing essential services, such as education, health and mobility.

  2. 2.

    SNAI stands for Strategia per le Aree Interne/Inner Areas Strategy—Cohesion Policy 2014–2020.

  3. 3.

    Territorial Agenda of EU 2020: Towards an Inclusive, Smart and Sustainable Europe of Diverse Regions, EU 2011 Hu.

  4. 4.

    European structural and investment funds (hereafter ‘structural funds’ or ESIF) support economic development across EU member states and their constituent regions, with the aim of reducing economic and social inequalities between the EU’s regions and nations. ESIF are divided into: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Cohesion Fund (CF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

  5. 5.

    www.opencoesione.gov.it [02/05/2017].

  6. 6.

    Regione Calabria (2015), La strategia per le aree interne, Politica di Coesione 2014–2020.

  7. 7.

    SNAI stands for Strategia per le Aree Interne/Inner Areas Strategy—Cohesion Policy 2014–2020.

  8. 8.

    Regione Calabria (2015) Programma Operativo Regionale 2014–2020. In particular, the “Urban and rural development” priority aims at promoting competitiveness, innovation, attractiveness and quality of life in both cities and rural areas.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. PAU Departmet, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, via Salita Melissari, Reggio Calabria, Italy

    Francesco Calabrò & Giuseppina Cassalia

Authors
  1. Francesco Calabrò
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  2. Giuseppina Cassalia
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Correspondence to Giuseppina Cassalia .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy

    Adriano Bisello

  2. EURAC Research, Bolzano, Italy

    Daniele Vettorato

  3. Foundation for the Urban Environment, Kortenberg, Belgium

    Pierre Laconte

  4. Costa & Partners Consulting sprl, Brussels, Belgium

    Simona Costa

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Calabrò, F., Cassalia, G. (2018). Territorial Cohesion: Evaluating the Urban-Rural Linkage Through the Lens of Public Investments. In: Bisello, A., Vettorato, D., Laconte, P., Costa, S. (eds) Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions. SSPCR 2017. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75774-2_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75774-2_39

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-75773-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-75774-2

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