<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The research topic is motivated by the fact that rural areas in Bulgaria are lagging behind in their economic, social and territorial development compared to urban areas, despite European Union support policies for regional development and cohesion. Regardless of the fact that more and more the specialized literature investigating the development of rural areas emphasizes multifaceted factors, including environmental, social and technological aspects, there is a lack of a complex approach to analysis and assessment of their condition. Therefore, the authors set out to develop and demonstrate the application of a comprehensive E-SMART evaluation model based on a combination of 6 groups of factors with a significant impact on the socio-economic development of rural areas. The approbation of the toolkit was carried out in the seven rural municipalities in the Veliko Tarnovo region. The analysis of the results of the groups of factors – economic, social, manufacturing, agriculture, resources and technologies, as well as the complex indicator E-SMART-score, reveals the general and specific problems, as well as the competitive advantages of the rural areas included in the analysis. E-SMART model can be used as a reliable tool to increase the administrative capacity of municipalities when making strategic decisions for the development of the region.</p>
</abstract>

The research topic is motivated by the fact that rural areas in Bulgaria are lagging behind in their economic, social and territorial development compared to urban areas, despite European Union support policies for regional development and cohesion. Regardless of the fact that more and more the specialized literature investigating the development of rural areas emphasizes multifaceted factors, including environmental, social and technological aspects, there is a lack of a complex approach to analysis and assessment of their condition. Therefore, the authors set out to develop and demonstrate the application of a comprehensive E-SMART evaluation model based on a combination of 6 groups of factors with a significant impact on the socio-economic development of rural areas. The approbation of the toolkit was carried out in the seven rural municipalities in the Veliko Tarnovo region. The analysis of the results of the groups of factors – economic, social, manufacturing, agriculture, resources and technologies, as well as the complex indicator E-SMART-score, reveals the general and specific problems, as well as the competitive advantages of the rural areas included in the analysis. E-SMART model can be used as a reliable tool to increase the administrative capacity of municipalities when making strategic decisions for the development of the region.

E-SMART Assessment for Rural Areas (Case Study of Veliko Tarnovo Region, Bulgaria)

St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo

Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The research topic is motivated by the fact that rural areas in Bulgaria are lagging behind in their economic, social and territorial development compared to...

E-SMART Assessment for Rural Areas (Case Study of Veliko Tarnovo Region, Bulgaria)

Data publikacji: 03 lip 2024

Zakres stron: 1912 - 1928

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0161

Słowa kluczowe
rural areas, social and economic development, global challenges, innovation, green transition

© 2024 Maria Ilcheva* et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

E-SMART Assessment for Rural Areas (Case Study of Veliko Tarnovo Region, Bulgaria)

Data publikacji: 03 lip 2024

Zakres stron: 1912 - 1928

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/picbe-2024-0161

Słowa kluczowerural areas, social and economic development, global challenges, innovation, green transition

© 2024 Maria Ilcheva* et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
rural areas, social and economic development, global challenges, innovation, green transition