University of Valencia logo Logo Inter-university Institute for Local Development Logo del portal

Since the 1950s, Spain has experienced a slow but continuous process of population loss in rural areas, although there are differences and exceptions to this statement. The Valencian Community has also experienced depopulation processes. Particularly but not only, in the most isolated and interior rural spaces associated with mountainous areas. However, the coast, with the city of Valencia and its metropolitan area, is the area where more than half of the province's population is concentrated. This implies an obvious territorial imbalance with a series of consequences related to the provision of services, mobility and population aging, among other aspects.

In the general framework of rural development, there are issues that must be the object of special attention and analysis. For example: individual and collective entrepreneurship as a central element in the socio-economic reactivation of these territories; the small local productive systems and the complementarities that can be developed within them. The evolution and changes in the local labor markets must also be taken into account; the role that can be played by complementary activities such as rural tourism and renewable energies; the offer and access to public equipment (health, education, social services, etc.) and private (for example, small or specialized trade). Finally, it is worth highlighting the key role played by mobility and transport in terms of greater efficiency in the provision and availability of this type of service.

Relevant links: