Circular Economy, Demographic Challenge and Climate Change: Research for the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue of Land on “Circular Economy, Demographic Challenge and Climate Change: Research for the Sustainable Development of Rural Areas”.

Research on rural development has grown exponentially in recent decades, being one of the most notorious fields in regional science addressed by economists, geographers, demographers and even political scientists. At the same time, depopulation studies have undergone a similar evolution. This is a phenomenon with negative consequences not only in the economic sphere, but also in the social and political sphere, given its importance for the future and survival of the rural environment. The same thing happens with climate change—an issue that has enormous long- and short-term implications not only for the life of people, but also for the development of economic activities, especially in rural areas. In this sense, this Special Issue will explore the link between geography, demography and the economy as a key point in the search for solutions to the challenges faced by the rural world in the next few years. From a general perspective, this Special Issue is open to the presentation of theoretical and applied papers, with the goal of bringing together quality works on new forms for promoting rural development, industrialization and outsourcing of rural environments, effects of economic development on rural depopulation, and even institutional aspects that can affect the different dimensions of depopulation. Specifically, papers on the following topics are welcome:

Research that addresses, from a theoretical point of view, the specificities of business agglomerations in rural areas; their different types, configuration and operation; as well as their competitive implications for the companies that comprise them.

Studies that empirically study specific rural productive systems that base their competitive advantage on agglomeration economies, especially if they affect business cooperation, product and process innovation linked to this cooperation, and internationalization.

Works that, focusing on key issues such as innovation, competitiveness and internationalization, constitute a relevant contribution to regional economic and social analysis and, by extension, to its contribution to rural development.

Studies on climate change and its effects on economic and demographic development.

Research on demographic challenge and on the depopulation of rural areas, considering the effects of these factors in economic and social terms.

Cross-sectional studies that show the relevance of rural development, whether they are approached from an economic, geographical, demographical, social or political perspective.

Studies that, with a historical perspective, analyze development in global sense and its links to the challenges faced by the rural world, either generically or through the study of specific cases.

Works that address any of the lines previously expressed, or others related to them, with a comparative perspective—either intersectoral or interterritorial.

Dr. Francisco Manuel Parejo-Moruno
Dr. Antonio Miguel Linares Luján
Dr. José Francisco Rangel Preciado
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. Land 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 2600 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.