This working paper examines the role of networks and rural-urban linkages to absorb and enhance innovation in rural regions, placing a special focus on the distinctive characteristics of rural areas that drive the different ways they adopt and diffuse innovation. After a review of the literature...

The paper presents the results of research on the rural/urban characterization of the Italian municipalities and the linkages between rurality and urbanity, on the one hand, and wealth, on the other. Two major results emerge from the analysis. The first is that no evidence is to be found of a...

"This final report was prepared by Bruno Losch, Sandrine Fréguin-Gresh and Eric White (World Bank), with contributions of Thierry Giordano and Jean-François Bélières (Cirad). It was peer-reviewed by Derek Byerlee, Don Larson (World Bank), and André Pouilles-Duplaix (AFD). The report draws...

pt. 1. Peasant livelihoods and the agrarian question -- pt. 2. Historical perspectives on agrarian change -- pt. 3. Contemporary perspectives on agrarian change -- pt. 4. agrarian question, past and present.