Presentation Title
rural areas in transition

Biography

Dr. Dirk Strijker (1953) is professor in Rural Development ( the Mansholt-chair) , and chairman of the department of Cultural Geography at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. He has his university degree in Agricultural Economics from Groningen and has Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Amsterdam for a thesis on the influence of the EU agricultural policy on the spatial patterns of agricultural production. He worked at the Faculty of Economics at the University of Groningen (1988 – 1983), and at the Agricultural Economics Research Institute (LEI) in The Hague (1983-1988). He published on various subjects, especially on the economic aspects of agricultural policy, the relations between agriculture, nature and rural development, and on spatial subjects related to agriculture and agricultural policy.

Notes on presentation:

• Degree of rurality map shows most delegates come from¬†urban/semi-urban regions
• Agriculture is not that important to economy of rural areas,¬†even less so in more urban areas
• 90% of economy in rural areas is related to industry/services
• Service sector provides much employment
• Many people from rural areas commute out to work because jobs¬†for well-educated tend to be in towns
• Tourists and residents want same things: clean landscape and¬†environment/good infrastructure
• Both spend part of their money locally
• Transition causes problems for some, but should be seen as¬†opportunity
• Agriculture will be viewed in different way now
• Future is knowledge related and schools/universities will add¬†to it