Submit to Economies Review for Economies Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Economies (ISSN 2227-7099). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2025) | Viewed by 26747

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Camelia Teodorescu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Human and Economic Geography, University of Bucharest, 0010041 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: economics; cultural geography; sustainable rural economy; social economics; economic impacts
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dincă

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Human and Economic Geography, University of Bucharest, 0010041 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: sustainable tourism; economic development; communities resilience; cultural heritage; territorial dynamics; creative economy; leisure industries and well-being; other societal and human geographies issues

Dr. Florentina-Cristina Merciu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Faculty of Geography, Interdisciplinary Center of Advanced Research on Territorial Dynamics, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: cultural heritage; industrial heritage; cultural geography; cultural regeneration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rural development is one of the most complex topical research issues, demanding complex interdisciplinary research proposing multifunctional sustainable economic development models based on theoretical and empirical studies underscoring socio-economic indicators which may improve policy approaches to analysis evaluation and decision making.

Changes in rural development policies from a sectoral to a multisectoral perspective and, further, to a territorial approach, ultimately embracing a local community development perspective, emphasize the need to provide socio-economic indicators related to rural development that may cope with multifunctional areas displaying nuanced local economies, which are sometimes dominated by agriculture, tourism, or local industries.

Moreover, rural environments are perhaps the ones experiencing the most severe recent changes, and the current orientation of agricultural policies and local economies in different rural regions is concerned, now more than ever, with environmental issues and sustainability aspects.

This Special Issue on Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development invites researchers to submit theoretical or empirical papers focusing on topics related to rural development indicators, models, or case studies; the sustainable socio-economic development of worldwide rural regions regardless of their scale; rural development policies and the role of decision makers and other stakeholders in addressing challenges in sustainable rural development; community engagement in linking agriculture with other economic sectors (e.g., tourism); etc. We welcome your contributions, including, but not limited to, the above directions.

Dr. Camelia Teodorescu
Dr. Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dincă
Dr. Florentina-Cristina Merciu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Economies is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

rural development
regional/local economies
socio-economic indicators
resilient communities
sustainable agriculture
rural tourism
smart villages

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (10 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

28 pages, 3339 KB

Open AccessArticle

Uncorking Rural Potential: Wine Tourism and Local Development in Nemea, Greece

by Angelos Liontakis and Elona Bogdani

Economies 2025, 13(10), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13100287 - 1 Oct 2025

Viewed by 288

Abstract

This study investigates the economic role of wine tourism in Nemea, Greece, a prominent Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) wine-producing region. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines interviews with local stakeholders and a structured post-wine-tasting visitor survey to assess wine tourism’s contribution to local development. A two-step multivariate analysis, incorporating Multiple Correspondence Analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis, reveals five distinct visitor profiles differing in spending behaviour, familiarity with the destination, and engagement patterns. While high-spending visitors support winery revenues, their limited local integration reduces their broader developmental impact. Conversely, younger and repeat domestic visitors offer more dispersed economic benefits through overnight stays, gastronomy, and cultural participation. In addition, local stakeholders highlight the region’s viticultural identity and growing tourism interest as strengths but also note persistent weaknesses such as inadequate infrastructure, limited coordination, and underdeveloped visitor services. The study concludes that visitor segmentation offers actionable insights for enhancing wine tourism’s developmental role. Targeted strategies tailored to specific visitor types are essential for improving integration with the local economy. These findings contribute to ongoing discussions on how wine tourism can act as a lever for inclusive, sustainable rural development in traditional wine regions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 490 KB

Open AccessArticle

Econometric Modelling of the Rural Poverty, Unemployment and the Agricultural Sector Using a Truncated Spline Approach with Longitudinal Data

by Sanusi Fattah, Abd Rahman Razak, Mohammad Amil Yusuf and Adji Achmad Rinaldo Fernandes

Economies 2025, 13(9), 273; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13090273 - 16 Sep 2025

Viewed by 735

Abstract

Rural poverty and unemployment remain persistent challenges in Indonesia, particularly in regions where agricultural development is uneven and land conversion accelerates socio-economic disparities. These conditions are highly relevant because rural areas serve as the backbone of food security, labour supply, and national economic stability. This study aims to address these issues by developing a flexible analytical framework that simultaneously models three indicators of rural development—rural poverty, rural unemployment, and agricultural sector growth—using a truncated spline nonparametric regression approach with longitudinal data from 2015 to 2023. The methodological approach integrates this regression with panel data across five Indonesian regions, allowing the analysis to capture nonlinear relationships and regional variations that conventional parametric models may overlook. The results indicate that population migration, land use change, and village fund allocation are the dominant drivers of rural development indicators, with nonlinear and region-specific effects. Village funds consistently reduce poverty and unemployment, while excessive land conversion restricts agricultural sector growth. The findings contribute to theory by demonstrating the advantages of flexible nonparametric approaches in modelling rural development dynamics, and to practice by offering empirical evidence for more targeted and adaptive policy interventions to alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment, and strengthen rural resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 15252 KB

Open AccessArticle

Railway Accessibility as an Opportunity for Rural Tourism Sustainability in Romania

by Adrian-Nicolae Jipa, Ana-Irina Lequeux-Dincă, Camelia Teodorescu, Aurel Gheorghilaș and Ana-Maria Roangheș-Mureanu

Economies 2025, 13(9), 270; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13090270 - 11 Sep 2025

Viewed by 606

Abstract

The close relationship between tourism and transportation in the context of sustainable mobility development and increased environmental and sustainability policies is widely debated in the scientific literature. The Romanian railway transport system may represent an ignored opportunity that is insufficiently considered and exploited for the growing rural tourism sector. This paper aims to analyze railway accessibility variables through empirical quantitative and cartographic mapping methods based on extensive documentation and statistic metadata, so as to propose a railway competitiveness index for rural tourism resorts in Romania. The main results show obvious discrepancies that are imposed mainly by the existence of a railway station for the resort and the number of trains stopping there during a day, as well as by the type of train and railway facilities that potential travelers to the destination could benefit from. Research findings may be of interest to both railway transport and tourism stakeholders and policymakers in attempts to find more sustainable ways for leisure mobility in Romania. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1497 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multiplier Effects of Ferry Transportation Development on Indonesia’s Medium-Term Economy by Using Input–Output Approach: A Case Study of Samosir Island

by Edward Marpaung, Shirly Wunas, Muhammad Yamin Jinca and Langas Denny Siahaan

Economies 2025, 13(6), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13060169 - 11 Jun 2025

Viewed by 1376

Abstract

This research investigates the multiplier effect of ferry transportation development on the medium-term economy of Samosir Island from 2016 to 2022. The study will provide insights into the implications of ferry transportation for the economies of rural or remote regions like Samosir Island. The analysis was conducted by comparing the multiplier effects before and after the development, utilizing the input–output approach, which encompassed the output multiplier, the multiplier on gross value added (GVA), and the household income multiplier. The findings from the input–output analysis indicate that the average output multiplier for 37 industries on Samosir Island has declined by 0.84% annually, with the average output multiplier recorded at 1.80 in 2016, decreasing to 1.71 by 2022. This suggests that, overall, the advancement of ferry transportation in the medium term is comparatively ineffective in promoting economic growth in rural or remote regions such as Samosir Island. Conversely, the average GVA multiplier rose by 1.04% annually. Similarly, the household income multiplier index experienced an increase of 1.91% each year. This indicates that ferry transportation seems to exert a notable influence on both GVA and the household income multiplier, albeit the effect is comparatively modest. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 277 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Remittances in Household Spending in Rural Nepal

by Resham Thapa-Parajuli, Tilak Kshetri and Sanjit Singh Thapa

Economies 2025, 13(6), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13060163 - 6 Jun 2025

Viewed by 3674

Abstract

Foreign remittances have become a crucial component of the Nepalese economy. This study investigates the impact of remittances on household consumption patterns in rural Nepal using data from the World Bank’s Nepal Household Risk and Vulnerability (NHRV) Survey Panel, covering the period from 2016 to 2018. Employing an instrumental variable regression approach, we estimate the elasticity of remittances to various consumption categories. Our findings indicate that foreign remittances significantly affect total consumption expenditure. Disaggregated results reveal that remittances positively influence spending on food items and non-food categories such as education and healthcare, highlighting their role in enhancing nutrition and human capital development. However, remittances do not contribute to unproductive expenditures like tobacco, alcohol, or rituals. Therefore, other things remaining the same, remittance is enhancing welfare in rural Nepali households. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

15 pages, 825 KB

Open AccessArticle

Developing and Validating a Measurement Scale for Perceived Value of Couchsurfing Experience in Tourism Industry: Implications for Rural Development

by Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Hassane Gharbi, Samar Zgolli and Imed Zaiem

Economies 2025, 13(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies13030077 - 17 Mar 2025

Viewed by 996

Abstract

Couchsurfing, a non-commercial form of accommodation, has become a way of life for travellers who want to open to other cultures and exchange with the inhabitants of the countries or regions they are visiting in a more active and authentic way. Despite the growing number of studies on couchsurfing recently, there is not to date an instrument for understanding the perceived value and experience of those travellers. This research fills a gap in research on the couchsurfing phenomenon by developing and validating a scale to assess the perceived value of a couchsurfing experience. The research adopted a mixed-method approach through qualitative and quantitative phases of studies. Both phases were undertaken with couchsurfers who had recently engaged in a couchsurfing experience. The results enabled us to obtain a reliable and valid scale for measuring the perceived value of a couchsurfing experience with three dimensions and nine items measuring economic value, exploration value and socio-cultural value. The measure could be used by service providers to develop appropriate tourism experiences, which impacts tourism development, particularly in rural areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 331 KB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Education-Induced Bargaining Power of Women on Household Welfare in Sub-Saharan Africa

by Raymond Boadi Frempong and David Stadelmann

Economies 2024, 12(11), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12110293 - 29 Oct 2024

Viewed by 2195

Abstract

Women’s education and empowerment have engaged the interest of policymakers and academics for many years. We employ individual-level data from Ghana and Uganda in this paper to offer a comparative analysis of the impact of women’s education and empowerment on six household welfare indicators: child labor, child school enrollment, female labor force participation, fertility rate, household food expenditure, and nutrition intake. Comparing the two countries is insightful due to their distinct socio-economic structures and cultural contexts, which might influence the dynamics of women’s empowerment differently. The study utilizes the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Instrumental Variables (IV) regressions and provides a battery of robustness tests. The empirical results show that in a household, the woman’s and man’s education levels are significant determinants of household welfare. However, contrary to common assumptions, the woman’s education does not have a stronger effect than the man’s, and her relative bargaining position has negligible effects on the welfare indicators studied, at least for the cases of Ghana and Uganda. Further sensitivity checks support these findings, suggesting that female education can improve household welfare, but its impact may not necessarily operate through enhanced bargaining power within the household. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

19 pages, 1179 KB

Open AccessArticle

Social Programs and Socioeconomic Variables: Their Impact on Peruvian Regional Poverty (2013–2022)

by J. Adolfo Hinojosa Pérez, Hernán Ricardo Briceño Avalos, Ivonne Yanete Vargas Salazar and Sergio Christian Carrasco Mamani

Economies 2024, 12(8), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12080197 - 29 Jul 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6211

Abstract

The aim of this research is to establish the extent to which social programs and socioeconomic variables have been influencing poverty in the 24 Peru regions (2013–2022). The study is quantitative, non-experimental, and correlational. We use secondary data obtained from official sources such as the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics, Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as the Peruvian Institute of Economics. For estimations, we use the Generalized Method of Moments System and dynamic panel data. The results indicate that Juntos, Pensión 65, Qali Warma, and Trabaja Perú social programs, with p-values of 0.383, 0.715, 0.681, and 0.870, respectively, have not had favorable impacts on reducing poverty. On the contrary, negative coefficients for human capital and physical infrastructure mean that improving them will reduce poverty at the regional level. A year more in schooling for the population aged over 15 years reduces poverty between 1.7% and 1.2%. Increasing 10% of the proportion of national roads in paved condition reduces poverty levels between 1.9% and 2.4%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3180 KB

Open AccessArticle

‘Unlock the Complexity’: Understanding the Economic and Political Pathways Underlying the Transition to Climate-Smart Smallholder Forage-Livestock Systems: A Case Study in Rwanda

by Chiara Perelli, Luca Cacchiarelli, Mutimura Mupenzi, Giacomo Branca and Alessandro Sorrentino

Economies 2024, 12(7), 177; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12070177 - 8 Jul 2024

Viewed by 2429

Abstract

The livestock-dairy sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Rwanda, is experiencing rapid growth due to population expansion, urbanisation, and changing food preferences. The unmet local production demands are causing soil and water pollution, competition for biomass, land, and water, but also grassland degradation, biodiversity loss, and increased GHGs emissions. Rwanda has the lowest productivity in the region, largely due to inadequate and poor-quality livestock feed resources. To increase animal productivity, promoting forage species with higher nutritional value and better adaptation to drought-prone and poor-fertility soils could be beneficial. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study explores Brachiaria forage adoption and profitability and analyses policy objectives and measures to overcome adoption barriers and promote the transition from subsistence to market-oriented systems. Results show that Brachiaria, although advantageous from an economic point of view, is characterised by very low adoption rates. Furthermore, access to extension programmes is limited and often not supported by adequate incentives. To overcome such barriers, policy interventions should be harmonised and information and knowledge management prioritised, public and private extension and advisory services (EASs) programmes coordinated, agricultural input subsidies increased, and institutional coordination promoted to enhance climate-smart animal feeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 5969 KB

Open AccessArticle

What Factors Are Limiting Financial Inclusion and Development in Peru? Empirical Evidence

by Sergio Luis Náñez Alonso, Javier Jorge-Vazquez, Lieslie Gallegos Arias and Noelia Muñoz del Nogal

Economies 2024, 12(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies12040093 - 16 Apr 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6016

Abstract

Despite recent efforts in Peru to boost financial inclusion, significant issues of exclusion persist, especially among vulnerable groups. This article aims to identify and analyze areas at risk of financial exclusion using a multifaceted methodology: the Financial Access Survey (FAS) for comparative analysis (Peru versus other countries and regions), geographical-distribution analysis, and the Access to Cash Index (ACI) methodology. Findings reveal that remote rural areas of Peru, particularly those inland, as well as mountainous or jungle regions, face higher risks of financial exclusion due to low digital literacy, limited digital banking usage, sparse branch and ATM networks, and inadequate transportation infrastructure. These insights can inform targeted public policies to enhance financial inclusion in Peru, as well as the development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Economic Indicators Relating to Rural Development

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI