scholarly journals The availability of local services and its impact on community cohesion in rural areas: Evidence from the English countryside

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignazio Cabras ◽  
Chi KM Lau

This paper investigates how the availability of services and amenities influences levels of community cohesion in rural England. Specifically, we measure levels of community cohesion in selected rural parishes between two points of time (2000 and 2010) using an index of indicators based on the presence or absence of retailers and amenities. Results of this analysis provide empirical evidence that the presence of facilities and services has a considerable impact on residents in rural areas, suggesting a significant relationship between the presence of small retailers and social engagement in the English countryside. We discuss these findings with regard to policies and initiatives that could enhance the positive impact that services and amenities operating within villages and rural hamlets have on local communities.

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Henschel

The need to enhance electricity access in rural areas of developing countries is universally recognized. However, tremendous challenges remain to finance electrification initiatives, to ensure the long term sustainability of rural electricity systems. In Lao PDR, one of the targets the government sets to achieve is the provision of electricity to 90% of the households by 2020. Considering the topography of the country and the low density of population, this ambitious objective can be reached only if innovative financing and operating mechanisms are developed and if private and public investors work closely together. A strategy based purely on government funded grid extension will not lead to the achievement of the objective. Exploring small hydro-power generation and the operation of village grids, energy provider Sunlabob has developed an innovative private-public partnership aimed at producing clean, reliable and affordable electricity in remote areas, empowering local communities, and promoting the use of electricity for productive and social purposes. The innovative features of this partnership include, mutual leverage of public and private funds for infrastructure development, community ownership and management of the fixed structures of the mini-grid (small dam, power house, transmission poles and lines), a combination of different efficient and reliable modern renewable energy technologies privately installed and owned which provide electricity 24/7 at low cost, training of local technicians who become energy entrepreneurs, empowerment of local communities for management and decision making as well as participatory work with local communities to identify productive and social uses of electricity. Both private and public partners have clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Linking affordable electricity generation on the one hand and development of productive and social activities on the other hand is a new approach which is needed to ensure the viability of the mini-grid and to maximize the positive impact on the socio-economic development of target villages.


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirosław Biczkowski

AbstractThe main aim of this paper is a quantitative and structural comprehensive evaluation of LEADER projects presented in the context of local resources, which determine development opportunities. The issue has been discussed mainly from a geographical and spatial perspective. The impact of the LEADER approach on increasing the mobilisation of local communities and their use of rural resources was evaluated; as a result, this has enabled a bottom-up simulation of the development of local government units. The LEADER approach has substantially contributed to the mobilisation of local resources in rural areas (e.g. growth in the number Local Action Groups (LAGs) from 149 to 338). It was found that the involvement of LAGs had a positive impact on the activity of inhabitants (i.e. an increase in the number of initiatives undertaken, the absorption of European Union (EU) funds). The nature of the implemented projects demonstrates that LEADER combines investment actions with social projects. In general, it has been implemented more successfully in areas where investments are related to genuine needs and local resources.


Author(s):  
Barbara Kutkowska ◽  
Dominika Mańkowska ◽  
David Kalisz

The aim of the research is to assess the targeting of financial resources granted by the Lower Silesia province self-government as part of Village Renewal in a Lower Silesia competition based on types and categories of projects implemented in 2008-2018. A properly directed management of local communities can have a positive impact on the development of the entire region. Not only do large EU funds have a real impact on improving the quality of life of rural residents, through cooperation initiatives, but small grants financed from the funds of province self-governments also do. An example is the Village Renewal programme – the longest-running regional programme for activating local communities. Activities in the field of village renewal implemented in Lower Silesia since 2008 indicate the dynamic progress of social participation. The analysis of projects co-financed from the province self-government proved that they were mainly directed at supporting the development of socio-cultural infrastructure as well as sports and recreation and leisure infrastructure. The experience of the self-government of the Lower Silesia province shows that external intervention in local systems through targeted regional projects opens new possibilities for shaping the socio-economic policy of rural areas.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duarte Pimentel

This study compares the perceptions of employer branding and psychological contract levels of employees of family and non-family firms. Specifically, to better understand the dynamics of family businesses, we assess the extent to which employer branding perceptions have an impact on the employees' psychological contract levels. The empirical evidence is provided by a sample of 165 Portuguese employees (76 from family businesses and 89 from non-family businesses), working in small and medium-sized privately-owned companies. The results confirmed the research hypotheses, suggesting that employees of family companies have higher perceptions of employer branding and psychological contract levels than those of employees of non-family companies, also revealing that employer branding has a positive impact on the psychological contract levels of family firm’s employees.


Author(s):  
Yohan Henri Wibowo

The aims of this study is to find empirical evidence, that there is a significant relationship between the Non Performing Loan Ratio is reflected in indicators of Non-Performing Loan (NPL) with a Profitability Ratio that is reflected in the indicators Net Profit Margin (NPM).The collecting of data method is secondary sources from Quarterly Financial Report Rural Banks (hereinafter referred to as BPR) as the city of Tangerang. The sample in this study is BPRin Kota Tangerang are categorized as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (hereinafter referred to as SMEs). The hypothesis was tested by normality test and linear regression, The results of the study are not found empirical evidence that there is a significant relationship between Non-Performing Loan Ratios were reflected in NPL with Ratio Profitability indicators are reflected in indicators of NPM.These results indicate that required the mediating factor, namely the Contractual Interest Income from Loans and Expenses of Assets Allowance (hereinafter referred PPAPWD) Keywords: Non-Performing Loan, Net Profit Margin


2020 ◽  
pp. 71-80
Author(s):  
Olesya Tomchuk

The article highlights the problems and prospects of human development, which is the basis for the long-term strategies of social and economic growth of different countries and regions at the present stage. Submitting strategies of this type provides an opportunity to focus on individual empowerment and to build a favorable environment for effective management decisions in the field of forming, maintaining, and restoring human potential. The analysis of the Vinnytsia region human potential dynamics in the regional system of social and economic development factors was carried out. Application of generalized assessment of the regional human development index components allowed the identification of the main trends that characterize the formation of human potential of the territory, including the reproduction of the population, social environment, comfort and quality of life, well-being, decent work, and education. The article emphasizes that despite some positive changes in the social and economic situation of the region and in assessing the parameters of its human development level relative to other regions of Ukraine, Vinnytsia region is now losing its human potential due to negative demographic situation and migration to other regions and countries. The main reason for such dynamics is proven to be related to the outdated structure of the region's economy, the predominance of the agricultural sector, the lack of progressive transformations in the development of high-tech fields of the economy. An important factor is the low level of urbanization of the region, which leads to the spread of less attractive working conditions and less comfortable living conditions. The key factors that cause the growth of urbanization in the region have been identified, including the significant positive impact of the transport and social infrastructure expansion, the lack of which in rural areas leads to a decrease in the level and comfort of life. Without progressive structural changes in the economy and the resettlement system, the loss of human potential will continue.


2020 ◽  
pp. 095148482097145
Author(s):  
Eleonora Gheduzzi ◽  
Niccolò Morelli ◽  
Guendalina Graffigna ◽  
Cristina Masella

The involvement of vulnerable actors in co-production activities is a debated topic in the current public service literature. While vulnerable actors should have the same opportunities to be involved as other actors, they may not have the needed competences, skills and attitudes to contribute to this process. This paper is part of a broader project on family caregivers’ engagement in remote and rural areas. In particular, it investigates how to facilitate co-production by looking at four co-design workshops with family caregivers, representatives of a local home care agency and researchers. The transcripts of the workshops were coded using NVivo, and the data were analysed based on the existing theory about co-production. Two main findings were identified from the analysis. First, the adoption of co-production by vulnerable actors may occur in conjunction with other forms of engagement. Second, the interactions among facilitators and providers play a crucial role in encouraging the adoption of co-production. We identified at least two strategies that may help facilitators and providers achieve that goal. However, there is a need for an in-depth understanding of how facilitators and providers should interact to enhance implementation of co-production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (7) ◽  
pp. 676-694
Author(s):  
Dieu Hack-Polay ◽  
Justice Tenna Ogbaburu ◽  
Mahfuzur Rahman ◽  
Ali B Mahmoud

A growing body of literature recognises the crucial role played by immigrant entrepreneurs. However, certain socio-cultural barriers adversely affect their businesses in rural areas. Thus, this article examines the socio-cultural barriers facing immigrant entrepreneurs in Lincolnshire. Eleven semi-structured interviews were held with businesses owned by immigrants from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The findings identified migrant ethnocentrism, stereotypes, cultural differences and language differences as key socio-cultural barriers adversely affecting immigrant businesses in Lincolnshire. The research found that immigrant enterprises experienced growth issues, not just owing to the size of the market but also due to issues of embeddedness in the socio-economic nomenclature. The study found mixed embeddedness to be key to immigrant entrepreneurial success. This involves immigrant adaptation to develop relational embeddedness with the hosts, involvement with its social, structural and institutional frameworks. The study contributes to our understanding of the role of social, relational, structural and institutional embeddedness in steering fertile approaches to immigrant entrepreneurship in rural England which has been under-researched.


SAGE Open ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 215824401668681
Author(s):  
Robert Lindsay Hakan ◽  
Julia M. Neal ◽  
John Lothes

Mindfulness should be associated with decreased automatic responding and with increased empathy and compassion. Therefore, given an opportunity to express judgments about other people, a highly mindful person should be less inclined to express negative and unnecessary judgments. The present study provided participants the opportunity to express judgments about photographs of other people in a procedure that attempted to control for potential demand characteristics associated with self-report measures of mindfulness. Expressed judgments were panel rated, and the derived judgment scores were regressed with participant scores on the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and the Five Facets of Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results demonstrated no overall significant relationship between judgments and MAAS or FFMQ total scores. However, a significant relationship between judgment scores and the “act with awareness” and the “non-judgment” facets of the FFMQ was observed. Judgment scores were also related to self-reported involvement in mindfulness activities such as meditation and yoga. These results suggest that self-reported mindfulness may not completely align with behaviors that logically reflect right mindfulness. Moreover, social judgment may be a useful overt measure related to mindfulness. The results also provide empirical evidence of the very strong social tendency to negatively and often derogatorily judge other people.


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