| Abstract [eng] |
A strategic expansion of the new rural functions in North Lithuania is investigated in the current master thesis. Aim of research – to define and evaluate the possibilities of expansion and the trends of the new (non-traditional) functions at rural places of North Lithuania. Methods of investigation: an analysis of the scientific publications and the legal acts, an analysis of the statistical indicators and the newest empirical data of rural development, a poll of two respondent groups, a statistical data analysis by computer. The expansion of new rural function in North Lithuania was investigated in 2007-2008. The investigations were carried out in districts of Akmenė, Joniškis, Šiauliai, Mažeikiai, Radviliškis, Panevėžys. Theoretical aspects of rural development: a conception and the features of rural development, a rural development politics, its process and implementation are discussed in the master thesis. The compatibility problems and possibilities of traditional and new rural functions in North Lithuania are analyzed in work including such functions as resident, economical diversification, relaxation and rehabilitation, cognitive and training, conservation of ethnographical and ethnical heritage, landscape nurturance functions. The data analysis of the poll of rural inhabitants and subdistricts administration workers of North Lithuania are carried out, the conclusions and their solutions are presented in the practical part of thesis. The investigation revealed opinion of rural subdistricts administration workers and rural inhabitants about possibilities and problems of development of rural areas, possibilities of practical implementation of system of new rural functions in North Lithuania. The next problems were raised: the working places in agriculture are decreasing during restructurisation, the alternative activities are not developed, structural unemployment is dominating, the incomes of rural inhabitants are insufficient. The vocational and management training do not respond to demands of labor market. The infrastructure is bad developed and is a main obstacle for rural development. The social and economical distinction between city and rural vicinities is deep. An emphasis on new functions for nonurbanized areas opens new rural development possibilities for the development of homogenous vital space. The thesis has theoretical and practical value, because new rural functions are little investigated yet in non-urbanized vicinities. There is a lack for generalizing research on this topic. |
