Chapter 1: Introduction: Rural marginality and its development -- Chapter 2: Food festivals and the Italian foodscape -- Chapter 3: Food festivals as identity devices -- Chapter 4: Food festivals as political devices -- Chapter 5: Food festivals as economic devices -- Chapter 6: Conclusions:...

What does the proliferation of food festival tell us about rural areas? How can these celebrations pave the way to a better future for the local communities? This book is addressing these questions contributing to the ongoing debate about the future of rural peripheries in Europe. The volume is...

This paper investigates the potential of civic crowdfunding as an innovative and collective option for contributing to the production of local public goods. It is articulated around two pillars. The first section provides a general understanding of crowdfunding practices and focuses principally...

Global opportunities for cities and localities have led to a renewed impetus for new financial tools. Addressing how public assets can be better used to generate private co-investment (rather than just sold for a once only ‘current value’ price) is now the new mind-set, and thinking about...

This book aims to support the design and delivery of more effective local and regional economic development strategies. A crucial part of this process is the collection and use of evidence, on local needs and options and on what works and what does not. Each important step in the process of...

To combat persistent unemployment and growing disparities, employment and training policies need re-organising to become more effective. Governments are endeavouring to achieve this by increasing the involvement of local and regional authorities, social partners, the private sector and the...