Transitioning towards a Sustainable Wellbeing Economy—Implications for Rural–Urban Relations

Karlheinz Knickel, Alexandra Almeida, Francesca Galli, Kerstin Hausegger-Nestelberger, Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins, Mojca Hrabar, Daniel Keech, Marina Knickel, Olli Lehtonen, Damian Maye, Irune Ruiz-Martinez, Sandra Šūmane, Hans Vulto and Johannes S. C. Wiskerke
Additional contact information
Karlheinz Knickel: HELSUS—Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science, Department of Economics and Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Alexandra Almeida: Comissão de Coordenação e Desenvolvimento Regional de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo (CCDR-LVT), 1269-053 Lisbon, Portugal
Francesca Galli: Department of Agriculture, University of Pisa, Food and Environment (DAFE), I-56124 Pisa, Italy
Kerstin Hausegger-Nestelberger: Regionalmanagement Steirischer Zentralraum, A-8010 Graz, Austria
Bryonny Goodwin-Hawkins: Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Mojca Hrabar: Oikos, Sustainable Development, Inc., SI-1241 Ljubljana-Kamnik, Slovenia
Daniel Keech: Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Marina Knickel: Department of Agriculture, University of Pisa, Food and Environment (DAFE), I-56124 Pisa, Italy
Olli Lehtonen: Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE), FI-00790 Helsinki, Finland
Damian Maye: Countryside and Community Research Institute, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Irune Ruiz-Martinez: Institute of Local Development, University of València, ES-46010 València, Spain
Sandra Šūmane: Baltic Studies Centre, LV-1014 Rīga, Latvia
Hans Vulto: Municipality of Ede, NL-6877 Ede, The Netherlands
Johannes S. C. Wiskerke: Rural Sociology Group (RSO), Section Space, Place and Society (SPS), Wageningen University, NL-6700 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 5, 1-21

Abstract: This article focuses on the question of how a shift from a narrow economic perspective to a wider sustainable wellbeing focus in regional development strategies and actions might change rural–urban relations. A brief review of relevant research and discourses about economic development models provides the foundation for the analysis. The review leads to the development of an analytical framework that puts the notion of sustainable wellbeing at its center. The criteria included in the analytical framework are then used to assess the current situation, challenges and perceived ways forward based on data and analyses from 11 European regions. The focus of the analysis is on different expressions of a sustainable wellbeing economy, and aspects of territorial development that are consistent with the basic features of a wellbeing economy are identified. Development dynamics and tensions between different development goals and resource uses, strategies and actions that are in favor of sustainable wellbeing goals, and conditions for more mutually beneficial rural–urban relationships are discussed. The article concludes with the implications for local government, and governance and policy frameworks. Reference is made to current high-level strategic policy frameworks and the European Green Deal.

Keywords: sustainable wellbeing; rural–urban relations; land management; local government; governance; policy; case studies; Europe (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:10:y:2021:i:5:p:512-:d:552154

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