In an era marked by mounting geopolitical instability, deepening economic shocks, and widening inequalities, the resilience of rural regions has never been more critical to national and global stability. Rural communities are not only essential providers of food, energy, and raw materials, but also increasingly serve as sites of innovation, entrepreneurship, and strategic opportunity. Yet, their contributions are too often undervalued, and their development potential often remains under-leveraged in policy frameworks.
Reinforcing Rural Resilience, the latest iteration of the OECD’s framework for rural development, offers a necessary corrective. It positions rural areas not as passive recipients of policy, but as active contributors to national progress and global resilience. Crucially, it recognises that rural regions are diverse in geography, economic structure, and opportunity, and that effective policy must reflect this diversity. For the first time, the report differentiates rural regions based on their proximity to cities, offering distinct insights into the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas close to functional urban areas (FUAs) versus those that are remote. This nuance enables more targeted and strategic policy responses that aligns with local realities, assets, and growth potential.
As global megatrends, including digitalisation, the green transition, demographic change, and the reconfiguration of global supply chains, accelerate and interact with economic and geo-political shocks, rural regions must be equipped to adapt and thrive. Their success and will be decisive in mitigating rural discontent and ability to weather future economic shocks.
Through robust analysis and policy recommendations, the report identifies critical drivers of rural growth and well-being, from tradeable specialisation, renewable energy potential, to rural-urban linkages and access to quality services. It also highlights the risks of inaction: growing discontent, democratic erosion, and missed opportunities for inclusive growth.
This publication breaks new ground by incorporating perception indicators, acknowledging that statistical performance is only part of the story. The well-being and satisfaction of rural residents that include their confidence in public services, connection to local economies, and sense of agency, are critical components of resilience. Understanding how rural people feel about their future is as important as understanding economic trends, particularly in a context of rising discontent and democratic fragility in many rural communities across the OECD.
Reinforcing rural resilience is a valuable resource for policy makers, civil society, and development actors committed to building fairer, more cohesive, and future-ready societies. Its insights invite us to rethink rural not as the periphery of progress, but as a core partner in a more resilient and equitable global future.