Peri-Urban Development as a Significant Rural Development Trend

TLDR

Peri‑urban development in Latvia, Poland, and Germany has transformed rural areas since the post‑system transformation era, shifting them from agricultural functions to intensified construction, altered land use, and significant socio‑demographic changes driven by urban and peripheral rural population inflows. The study finds that peri‑urban development began later in Eastern and Central Europe after the transformation than in Western Europe, yet the current processes and phenomena are similar across both regions.

Abstract

Abstract The paper focuses on demographic and social changes caused by peri-urban development in rural areas in Latvia, Poland, and Germany after the system transformation began. The article analyses peri-urban development as a mostly rural phenomenon, and as a process of rural displacement. Rural development interacts with urban influences, changing the role and functions of rural areas. This is reflected by a departure from agricultural functions, more intensive construction activities and changes in land use. This also includes intensive socio-demographic and socio-cultural changes. Simultaneously there are significant population inflows, both urban and rural (from more peripheral rural areas), an increase in population density, changes of population structure etc. The paper shows that peri-urban development as a general rural trend began later in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe (after the transformation) than in Western Europe, but the processes and phenomena presently observed in Eastern and Western Europe are similar.