Young People in Rural Areas of Europe

Despite an EU-wide commitment to rural development, certain aspects of the countryside and rural living have so far been neglected. In particular, very little research has focused on how young people live in rural areas, on their incomes and quality of life, their perceptions of how policies impact [...]
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Despite an EU-wide commitment to rural development, certain aspects of the countryside and rural living have so far been neglected. In particular, very little research has focused on how young people live in rural areas, on their incomes and quality of life, their perceptions of how policies impact upon them, and how they are affected by the dynamics of social and economic change. Based on a two-year European research project on policies and young people in rural development, this edited volume examines these issues and compares young people's experiences of rural life in the UK, Ireland, Finland, France, Germany, Austria and Portugal. The volume is organized thematically so that each chapter addresses a specific topic across all of the countries. These topics are: the attractiveness of rural areas to young people; the impact of programmes under the European Employment Guidelines; rural youth in local community development and partnerships; rural development programmes and their impact on youth integration; the role of social networks; and the transition from education to employment.It reviews relevant policies and highlights not only the pressures on young people in rural areas but also what might be done to address these issues.