Welfare Reform on the Web (November 2010): Community regeneration and development - overseas

Social inclusion or market competitiveness? A comparison of rural development policies in the European Union of the United States

S. Shortall and M.E. Warner

Social Policy and Administration, vol. 44, 2010, p. 575-597

While EU rural development policy emphasises social inclusion, US policy is more focused on economic competitiveness. This article examines the different values and assumptions underpinning the policies and situates them in their socio-historical context. In both countries, new rural development policies emphasise partnership and participation, but local participation is used to promote inclusion in the EU, and market competitiveness in the USA.