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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Urban and Rural Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 13745

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Dr. Radu-Dănuț Săgeată

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Guest Editor

Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: regional development and territorial planning; human and regional geography; settlement systems; urban and rural geography; political geography and geopolitics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Remus Creţan

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Guest Editor

Department of Geography, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology& Geography, West University of Timișoara, Timișoara, Romania
Interests: regional, urban and rural studies; heritage and memory; historical geography and place naming; political ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Evaluating and analyzing the impact of the phenomena generated by globalization is extremely important for understanding contemporary spatial dynamics and implementing territorial development strategies.

Current trends in regional, urban and rural development and planning are not uniform, and in some cases, they are even chaotic. Territorial planning (regional, urban and rural), both top-down and bottom-up (with the involvement of local stakeholders), has certain limitations and uncertainties.

Economic and social gaps, a result of varying development policies, have widened as unemployment and the need to retrain labor forces have grown, which has, in turn, increased poverty, social marginalization and economic migration and decreased the birth rate, contributing to depopulation, deindustrialization and deurbanization, and changes in urban and rural areas and land use sustainability.

In this context, we are interested in contributions that examine and connect the changes and dynamics of urban and rural areas, rural–urban relations and land use changes, the expansion and development of peri-urban and metropolitan areas, and the phenomena enabling these connections.

In addition, this Special Issue aims to highlight and analyze the factors that have contributed to economic and social imbalances in urban and rural development, to the sharp decrease in the population and to the social impact of depopulation and the demographic and social risks arising from this phenomenon.

Studies can be theoretical in nature, aimed at improving the theoretical and methodological issues, or can comprise empirical research and regional case studies targeting the key phenomena that facilitate these connections.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

Urban development;
Rural development and land use sustainability;
Regional development and land use sustainability;
Management of urban and rural areas, and urban–rural interfaces;
Regional development and the resilience of urban and rural systems;
Changes in urban and rural functional areas and land use;
Urban and rural areas, urban–rural relations in the post-pandemic socio-economic context;
Urban and rural poverty and social risks;
The impact of environmental changes on the structure and dynamics of land use and land cover in the urban and rural areas;
Economic gaps and social risks and the adjustment of urban and rural communities;
Land use and land cover changes in peri-urban and ex-urban areas and their environmental effects;
Suburbanization, metropolization and gentrification processes;
Depopulation and its socio-economic consequences in urban and rural areas;
Disadvantaged and/or monofunctional areas in urban and rural settlements;
Urban and rural development, urban–rural relations in peripheral/cross-border areas;
Counter-urbanization and city–village migration.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Radu-Dănuț Săgeată
Prof. Dr. Remus Creţan
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

urban and rural development
territorial planning
land use sustainability
political and administrative decisions
development policies

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 298 KB

Open AccessArticle

Depopulation, Ageing, and Social Sustainability: Institutionalized Elderly and the Geography of Care Between Rural and Urban Romania

by Dana Zamfirescu-Mareș and Sorina Corman

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10419; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210419 - 20 Nov 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 723

Abstract

Population ageing and rural depopulation are reshaping the social and spatial structure of many European regions, producing new forms of social risk and care dependency. This study examines how institutionalization among older adults reflects the broader dynamics of demographic decline, migration, and uneven territorial development. Using a qualitative design, semi-structured interviews and social network mapping (ecomaps) were conducted with residents of an urban elderly care facility in Romania. Guided by frameworks of social sustainability, social capital, and territorial resilience, the analysis explores how the erosion of informal networks and migration-driven care deficits affects the wellbeing and social inclusion of older people. Findings show that institutionalization operates both a consequence and as an indicator of depopulation and spatial inequality, highlighting the disconnection between aging populations and community-based care infrastructures. Yet, residents develop micro-level forms of resilience and relational stability within institutional life. The study concludes that sustainable territorial development must integrate care and ageing into regional planning, encouraging decentralized, community-based services that rebuild local networks and restore social cohesion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

24 pages, 13904 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation, Coordination Relationship, and Obstacle Factor Analysis of Integrated Urban–Rural Development in Counties of Wuling Mountain Area

by Jiaheng Chen, Jian Yang, Debin Lu, Feifeng Wang, Dongyang Yang and Tingting He

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10010; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210010 - 9 Nov 2025

Viewed by 646

Abstract

Integrated urban–rural development is of great significance in promoting coordinated development in underdeveloped areas across provinces and advancing common prosperity. Previous studies have mostly focused on typical counties in single or developed areas, with insufficient exploration of integrated urban–rural development in underdeveloped areas. A total of 71 counties in Wuling Mountain area were taken as the research object, and a conceptual model of “element–structure–function” was constructed based on the theory of the urban–rural integration system. The entropy weight ideal point method, variation coefficient method, coupling coordination model, and obstacle model were employed to analyze the integrated urban–rural development in counties of the Wuling Mountain area during 2010 and 2023 from the five dimensions of population, economy, space, society, and ecology, and to explore their coupling coordination relationship and key obstacle factors. The research results indicate the following: (1) During the study period, the average annual growth rate of integrated urban–rural development was only 1.213%, showing a relatively low level. The spatial evolution exhibited a trend of “overall optimization–gap convergence–multipolar linkage–hot in the south and cold in the north”. (2) The comprehensive coupling coordination increased from 0.6380 in 2010 to 0.7016 in 2023, and the coupling coordination of “population–space” became the dominant mode. Nearly 60% of counties achieved a level upgrade from the transition stage to the coordination stage, and the multidimensional coordination relationship was mainly affected by the dual effects of spatial polarization and ecological constraints. (3) The obstacle of spatial integration ranked first and the mismatch of factors was severe. Land urbanization and population distribution imbalance were key obstacles, and their core contradictions were concentrated in the tripartite dilemma of “extensive land utilization–factor blockage–ecological antagonism”. It is urgent to achieve coordinated and sustainable development of urban and rural integration through market-oriented reforms of two-way factor flow. The conceptual model of “element–structure–function” constructed by the research results can provide a theoretical tool for analyzing the integrated development of urban and rural areas in counties, and can provide decision support for solving the dilemma of element mismatch. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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39 pages, 4760 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Dilemma of the Sustainable Development of Agricultural Product Brands and the Construction of Trust: An Empirical Study Based on Consumer Psychological Mechanisms

by Xinwei Liu, Xiaoyang Qiao, Yongwei Chen and Maowei Chen

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9029; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209029 - 12 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1084

Abstract

In the context of China’s increasingly competitive agricultural product branding, authenticity has become a pivotal mechanism for shaping consumer trust and willingness to pay. This study takes Perceived Brand Authenticity (PBA) as its focal construct and builds a chained mediation framework incorporating experiential quality (EQ) and consumer trust. Employing a dual-evidence strategy that combines structural discovery and causal validation, the study integrates Jaccard similarity clustering and PLS-SEM to examine both behavioral patterns and psychological mechanisms. Drawing on 636 valid survey responses from across China, the results reveal clear segmentation in channel choice, certification concern, and premium acceptance by gender, age, income, and education. Younger and highly educated consumers rely more on e-commerce and digital traceability, while middle-aged, older, and higher-income groups emphasize geographical indications and organic certification. The empirical analysis confirms that PBA has a significant positive effect on EQ and consumer trust, and that the chained mediation pathway “PBA → EQ → Trust → Purchase Intention” robustly captures the transmission mechanism of authenticity. The findings demonstrate that verifiable and consistent authenticity signals not only shape cross-group consumption structures but also strengthen trust and repurchase intentions through enhanced experiential quality. The core contribution of this study lies in advancing an evidence-based framework for sustainable agricultural branding. Theoretically, it reconceptualizes authenticity as a measurable governance mechanism rather than a rhetorical construct. Methodologically, it introduces a dual-evidence approach integrating Jaccard clustering and PLS-SEM to bridge structural and causal analyses. Practically, it proposes two governance tools—“evidence density” and “experiential variance”—which translate authenticity into actionable levers for precision marketing, trust management, and policy regulation. Together, these insights offer a replicable model for authenticity governance and consumer trust building in sustainable agri-food systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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24 pages, 9123 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Territorial Cohesion and Administrative Organization in Regional Sustainability: The Case of Romania

by Radu Săgeată and Remus Crețan

Sustainability 2025, 17(20), 9006; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17209006 - 11 Oct 2025

Viewed by 1339

Abstract

Recent studies have indicated that territorial cohesion represents a fundamental variable for the viable functioning of a state. Territorial cohesion is the result of the interaction between two categories of forces: centripetal, which tends to maintain its cohesion, and centrifugal, which tends to break it up. These forces are the combined result of several categories of factors (ethnic, historical and geopolitical, demographic, and social–economic) which characterize each state and territory. The degree of accessibility is a composite indicator that accumulates the influence of natural and economic–social factors through the degree of development of the communications infrastructure on territorial cohesion. Accessibility is of crucial importance, especially in the case of relatively ethnically homogeneous states. Our study analyzes these aspects of territorial cohesion and administrative organization in the case of Romania, a state located in a European region of geopolitical interference and instability. By using a methodology on the critical analysis of data, documents, and bibliographic sources in Romania, the results of our study indicate changes in the relations between cities and subordinate human settlements that occurred in the last five decades, as well as the lack of financial viability of many administrative–territorial units. The conclusions of our research propose a broad rethinking of the administrative–territorial organization in this country, based mainly on better functionality and territorial cohesion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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39 pages, 885 KB

Open AccessArticle

Digitalization and Culture–Tourism Integration in China: The Moderated Mediation Effects of Employment Quality, Infrastructure, and New-Quality Productivity

by Kahaer Abula and Yusupu Aihemaiti

Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8792; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198792 - 30 Sep 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1069

Abstract

The digital economy is significantly transforming the global economic environment and has emerged as the primary driver behind China’s high-quality development. The comprehensive melding of the cultural and tourism sectors (CTI) serves as a strategic approach to boost regional competitiveness and enhance public welfare. This study investigates the mechanisms and boundary conditions through which the growth of the digital economy across China’s 31 provinces from 2011 to 2023 impacts CTI, aiming to address existing research gaps related to micro-level transmission mechanisms and the analysis of contextual variables. Utilizing a two-way fixed-effects moderated mediation model complemented by instrumental variable (IV-2SLS) regression for testing endogeneity, the research uncovers intricate interactions among the digital economy, CTI, and significant influencing factors. The results strongly suggest that advancements in the digital economy substantially facilitate the integration of cultural and tourism sectors. This beneficial effect is partially mediated through two primary channels: the construction of new infrastructure and enhancements in employment quality, underscoring the critical role of both material and human capital in digital empowerment. Significantly, this research uniquely identifies that new quality productive forces (NQP) have a notable negative moderating impact on the link between the digital economy and cultural–tourism integration. This indicates that in provinces exhibiting high levels of NQP, the positive influence of the digital economy on cultural–tourism integration is considerably diminished. This unexpected finding can be interpreted through mechanisms such as resource dilution, varied integration pathways or maturity effects, along with differences in developmental stages and priorities. Furthermore, it resonates well with the resource-based view, innovation ecosystem theory, and dynamic capability theory. Instrumental variable regression further substantiates the notable positive influence of the digital economy on the integration of cultural tourism. This approach effectively tackles potential endogeneity concerns and reveals the upward bias that may exist in fixed-effects models. The findings contribute significantly to theoretical frameworks by enhancing the understanding of the intricate mechanisms facilitating the digital economy and, for the first time, innovatively designating NQP as a surprising key boundary condition. This enriches theories related to industrial advancement and resource allocation in the digital age. On a practical note, the research provides nuanced and differentiated policy guidance aimed at optimizing pathways for integration across various Chinese provinces at different stages of development. Additionally, it underscores significant implications for other developing nations engaged in digital tourism growth, thereby improving its global relevance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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33 pages, 16559 KB

Open AccessArticle

Intergenerational Transmission of Collective Memory in Public Spaces: A Case Study of Menghe, a Historic and Cultural Town

by Hairuo Wang, Baozhu Xie, Ying Zeng, Ankang Liu, Baozhong Liu and Lijuan Qin

Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198596 - 25 Sep 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1995

Abstract

Historic and cultural towns are undergoing spatial restructuring and memory ruptures in the context of urban–rural transformation. Collective memory depends on the continuity of public space, with generational differences playing a key role in its transmission. This study uses Menghe Town in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, as a case to explore the role of public space in collective memory transmission through interviews, emotional mapping, and intergenerational co-construction analysis. The findings show the following: (1) Interviews and emotional mapping reveal that memories of traditional spaces like farmland have weakened, while emerging public spaces such as squares and walkways have become new memory nodes, reflecting a dynamic “carrying-transformation-reproduction” mechanism. (2) Intergenerational emotional mapping reveals that the transformation of spatial functions has driven the reconstruction of cultural identity, shifting villagers’ sense of place from clan and production-based spaces to modern public spaces. (3) Intergenerational emotional mapping and co-construction analysis reveal significant generational differences in memory perception and spatial use: the older generation relies on ancestral halls and farmland, the middle generation on factories and streets from the “agriculture-to-industry” period, and the younger generation on modern facilities like squares and schools. This study proposes the “Narrate—Preserve—Participate” model, explaining memory transmission across generations and offering insights for intergenerational collaboration and differentiated preservation in public space planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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24 pages, 1030 KB

Open AccessArticle

How Urban Governance Communities Are Constructed and Sustained: A Grounded Theory Approach

by Wenhao Xu, Wang Zhang, Tinghui Wu, Yiyang Chu and Shuhan Miao

Sustainability 2025, 17(19), 8564; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198564 - 24 Sep 2025

Viewed by 1657

Abstract

Building sustainable cities and communities is an important part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The construction and development of Urban Governance Communities is a Chinese program to respond to this goal. Drawing upon the extant national cases of innovative social governance spearheaded by People’s Daily and analogous organizations, this study elucidates the developmental process and continuous operational mechanism of urban governance community through the grounded theory (GT) approach. The explanatory framework under consideration comprises three aspects. First, it contains the precise identification and typology of traditional governance dilemmas. Secondly, it refines the core element system of “Coupling Dilemma-Cracking Path-Dependent Tools” of urban governance communities. The third objective is to provide a synopsis of the operational and developmental model of the Urban Governance Communities, which is predicated on co-construction, co-governance, and co-sharing. This model of urban governance can be selectively applied in the light of the differentiated resource endowments of the location, thus providing an operational and realistic sample for building sustainable cities and communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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19 pages, 1586 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial–Temporal Differences in Land Use Benefits and Obstacles Under Human–Land Contradictions: A Case Study of Henan Province, China

by Feng Xi, Yiwei Xu, Shuo Liang and Yuanyuan Chen

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6693; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156693 - 22 Jul 2025

Viewed by 1144

Abstract

Against the background of intensifying human–land contradictions, evaluation of land use benefits and identification of obstacles are crucial for sustainable land management and socioeconomic development. Taking Henan Province as an example, this research employed the entropy weight method and TOPSIS model to assess the land use benefits across its cities from 2011 to 2020, a period of rapid land use transformation, analyzed their spatiotemporal evolution, and identified key obstacles via an obstacle degree model. The results showed the following. (1) The social land use benefits consistently exceeded the ecological and economic benefits, with steady improvements observed in both the individual and comprehensive benefits. Spatially, the benefits showed a “one city dominant” pattern, decreasing gradually from the central region to the south, north, east, and west, with this spatial gradient further intensifying over time. (2) Economic factors were the primary obstacles, with significantly higher obstruction degrees than social or ecological factors. The main obstacles were the general budget revenue of government finance per unit land area, domestic garbage removal volume, and total retail sales of social consumer goods per unit land area. (3) The policy implications focus on strengthening regional differentiated development by leveraging Zhengzhou’s core role to boost the land-based economic benefits, integrating social–ecological strengths with agricultural modernization, and promoting “core–periphery linkage” to narrow gaps through targeted industrial and infrastructure strategies. This study could provide region-specific insights for sustainable land management in agricultural provinces undergoing rapid urbanization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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19 pages, 989 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact Mechanisms of New Quality Productive Forces on Rural Transformation: Evidence from Shandong Province, China

by Chen Huang, Jinlong Zhao, Zhongchen Yang and Liang Wang

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 5869; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17135869 - 26 Jun 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1359

Abstract

New quality productive force is a crucial driver for rural transformation. Exploring the impact of this new quality productive force on rural transformation in Shandong Province and enhancing the positive role of regional new quality productive force are significant in promoting high-quality development in this area. Based on urban panel data from 16 prefecture-level cities in Shandong Province, China, spanning from 2010 to 2022, the levels of new quality productive force and rural transformation in Shandong Province are measured separately and an econometric model is constructed to analyze, in depth, the impact of new quality productive force on rural transformation and its mechanism of action. The results show the following. (1) New quality productive force can significantly increase the level of rural transformation in Shandong Province. (2) The urbanization rate of new quality productive force significantly promotes rural transformation, but increases in the average wage of urban workers and the over-advancement of industrial structure significantly inhibit rural transformation. (3) New quality productive force significantly affects the level of rural transformation, mainly by improving the quality of the population. (4) There is regional heterogeneity in the impact of new quality productive forces on rural transformation in the three economic circles of Shandong Province. New quality productivity force provides new dynamic energy for rural transformation in Shandong Province, which can provide new research perspectives and practical guidance for better rural development in China and the rest of the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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Review

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23 pages, 1481 KB

Open AccessReview

Beyond Theory: Evolution, Benefits, and Evaluation Challenges of Complete Streets Policy in the United States

by Arefeh Nasri and Sevgi Erdoğan

Sustainability 2025, 17(22), 10383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210383 - 20 Nov 2025

Viewed by 404

Abstract

The Complete Streets policy has gained popularity in recent decades. This paper traces the evolution of the policy in the United States by reviewing the relevant literature. It examines the conceptual framework, objectives, and design requirements, followed by the state of practice, implementation, evolution, and anticipated benefits of the policy, such as its impact on transportation, travel behavior, safety, health, environment, and economy, and how these benefits have been quantified. The study identifies research gaps in evaluating the success of the Complete Streets policy. The insights gained can help policy and decision-makers, aid implementation, and promote sustainable transportation and urban planning at various scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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Other

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30 pages, 1583 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

How Does Outdoor Spatial Design Shape the Microclimate, Comfort, and Behavior in Traditional Chinese Villages? A Systematic Review Across Scales, Contexts, and Users

by Zixi Wan, Huihui Liu, Yan Yu, Yan Wu, Mark Melchior, Pim Martens, Thomas Krafft and David Shaw

Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6960; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156960 - 31 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1178

Abstract

Traditional Chinese villages, which have long supported villagers’ comfort level of daily activities, are increasingly affected by global climate change and rural reconstruction, prompting growing research interest in their outdoor microclimate design. This systematic review aims to synthesize and evaluate the outdoor microclimate spatial design mechanism studies in traditional Chinese villages noted for their uniqueness and complexity. Following the PRISMA method, this study was carried out on November 27, 2024, by retrieving studies from the Scopus and CNKI databases and applying predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria; 42 empirical studies were systematically reviewed. It identifies current research trends, summarizes concepts, frameworks, indicators, and methodologies with a focus on the design mechanisms considering scales, contexts, and user groups, and outlines directions for future research. The findings reveal a growing number of publications, with case studies predominantly concentrated on three concepts: physical microclimates, human comfort, and behavioral responses, characterized as distributed in south-east areas. Based on these concepts and their correlations, this study proposes a classification framework based on multiple scales, contexts, and user groups. Within this framework, the study found that relative humidity and PET (physiological equivalent temperature) emerge as the most commonly used indicators, while field measurements, simulations, surveys, and observations are identified as the primary methods. The review further reveals that unique outdoor spatial design characteristics shape physical microclimates, human comfort, and behavior indicators influenced by contexts and users from the macro to the micro scale. Future research should advance existing studies by enriching the current contextual framework and explore more microclimatic factors. This review offers a comprehensive overview and actionable insights for outdoor microclimate design, policymaking, and the promotion of climate adaptation and villagers’ public health in different traditional rural settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Challenges in Sustainable Urban, Rural and Regional Development)

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