Environmental, Social and Digital Profile of Rural Municipalities in Bulgaria – Methodology and Interactions

The specific problems characterizing rural development are the subject of studies from various fields of science, with an emphasis on the environmental, social and digital challenges they face in the light of mainstream topics. However, the lack of a comprehensive quantified approach to their analysis and evaluation stands out. This motivates the authors of this article to set themselves the goal of developing a complex indicator for characterizing the ecological, social and digital profile of rural municipalities in Bulgaria and establishing dependence on their financial and economic status. To conduct the study, a stratified random sample of 52 out of a total of 215 Bulgarian rural municipalities is formed, containing representatives from all regions of the country. As a result of the study, a significant differentiation in the values of the proposed complex indicator is demonstrated. Through statistical tools and in-depth analysis of individual cases, the existence of a systematic influence of the financial and economic factors on the complex environmental, social and digital state of rural areas in Bulgaria is proved. Individual characteristics and specific impacts are also found, predetermining the leadership of individual municipalities, as well as the presence of underutilized potential for the socio-environmental and technological progress of others. At the end of the study, specific areas of support for the balanced development of rural municipalities in our country are proposed.