While rural and urban areas are mostly separated by traditional administrative boundaries, they are nonetheless deeply interconnected through a variety of complex relationships. These relationships originate from the differing characteristics of the rural and urban territories, enabling each to complement the other’s assets and help address the other’s shortcomings, potentially unlocking socio-economic benefits for both.

Rural-urban linkages exist across several dimensions including demographic, environmental and economic aspects . Demographic linkages include commuters and migration dynamics. This is one of prime reasons of migration.This can include young people moving from rural to urban areas for educational or career opportunities. urban retirees sometime move g to rural areas to enjoy a slower pace of life, a greater sense of community and proximity to nature. Environmental linkages can include shared assets, such as water, and amenities for public enjoyment, such as natural beauty spots. Economic linkages include a wide variety of relationships, including trade and supply-chain links between firms across the rural-urban continuum, investments and relationships around research and innovation that support the development and commercialisation of new products and services.

Source: OECD (2013[1]), Rural-Urban Partnerships: An Integrated Approach to Economic Development, https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264204812-en.

Source(s)

OECD Library