Agricultural Economics in the Context of Portuguese Rural Development

Assessing an agri-food development strategy: a bi-regional input–output model with resource-constrained sectors

“…Of course, this work admits the need to find relevant counterforces to tackle the economic and social vulnerability of regions that are not positioned on the benefit side of the global logistics scale (Marsden and Sonnino, 2005). In other words, a shift from agricultural growth to rural development is required (Martinho, 2015), meaning a diversification of the economic base of those regions (Psaltopoulos et al, 2004). Agri-food products may be part of this diversification, despite the arguable limitations of this strategy.…”

“…The new plants, in the laggard region, are deemed to be competitive, and thus a matching increase in the demand for the new products is admitted (e.g., the new products are exportable). 1 Thus, the main idea underlying this strategy is to shift the export base of the less developed region from primary products, such as the products of agriculture, to agri-food products involving a higher value added, or in other words allowing for an upgrade of the regional value chain (Marsden and Sonnino, 2008;van der Ploeg et al 2008;Irwin et al, 2010;Martinho, 2015). The purpose of this paper is thus to make an appraisal of this policy.…”

Russian Food Import Ban – Impacts on Rural and Regional Development in Finland

“…Accordingly, European Parliament (2016) concluded that the importance of agriculture and food processing as rural employers markedly varies in EU regions. Martinho (2015) called for a shift from agricultural growth to rural 508/648 development, such that regional economic base would become more diversified. A number of regional scientists have argued that the growth of a region depends on the growth of its export industries (e.g., Richardson 1976).…”