Urbanisation will continue in China, with the government planning to grant urban residential status to an additional 100 million rural workers by 2020. While this process is transforming the urban economy, the rural economy is also undergoing substantial structural change. Government policy...

Investments in infrastructure are necessary to achieve the objective of Sustainable Development Goal2 (SDG2), which is to "end hunger, ensure food security and promote sustainable agriculture" and to also create jobs in the Sahel region, specifically in Niger and Côte d'Ivoire. A significant...

This paper identifies the effect of aspirations on the adoption of agricultural innovations in the context of rural Ethiopia. While most studies on agricultural innovations have focused on identifying observable and resource-related deprivations or ‘external' constraints, a related stream of...

Agricuture Ministry of Russia has developed a draft of the State program of integrated development of rural territories (SP IDRT) for 2020–20251. Fundamental difference of the new program from the current Federal Target Program “Sustainable development of rural areas for 2014–2017 and the...

Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation prepared their regular changes to the State program on development of agriculture for 2013–20251. These changes raise questions regarding the feasibility of implementation of import substitution tasks and growth of agribusiness products. State...

In this paper some of the key issues related to digitalisation in agriculture and rural areas are addressed. In line with the Green Deal, the paper proposes a framework on how to address the "twin transition" (ecological+digital) through transformative policies based on directionality, market...

In this paper I look at knowledge systems and the channels of innovation diffusion in Tajikistan. In particular I look at the formation of the agricultural advisory services as a vital source of knowledge and innovation for farmers during the transition process. After the end of the Soviet Union...

Training plays a strategic role in improving the competitiveness and the productivity of the agricultural sector. Its role is widely recognized by the European Union that encourages it through the Rural Development Program, financing training courses for agricultural and forest operators. The...

We study how the presence of a college affects the local economy using administrative data. Our analysis exploits the opening of new institutions of tertiary education across Germany in the 1980s and 1990s. The new college substantially increased the student population and share of high-skilled...