The Changing Nature of Countryside and Farming: Towards a Socially Responsible Provision of Public Goods in Transition Economies

Needs and ways of managing natural resources in a sustainable and responsible way are under the scientific discussions for nearly three decades, since the environment was perceived as a public good. Major areas of concern range from environmental to social and ethical issues, which are close to corporate social responsibility (CSR) paradigm. This study examines the changing nature of countryside and farming from the Soviet period till nowadays, aiming to find out the main factors, which shape the trends of rural development in transition economies and compose the demand for socially responsible provision of public goods. Main objectives of the study are: to analyze common rural development features of Soviet period since 1990s; to define the key features of rural development in Lithuania as a country of transition just after the regained independence and in recent years, which affected the general provision of public goods and to project the main factors for its demand. Statistical data analysis, generalization, systematization and projection methods were applied. Research results show that the demographic and environmental issues are the top concerns, and these will probably form major groups of factors for the demand of socially responsible provision of public goods in the nearest future.