Unravelling the link between land use policy and digital infrastructure: Insights from Czech rural communities

This study explores the complex interaction between land use policies and digital infrastructure in rural contexts, focusing on the Czech Republic. By examining data from 2014 to 2020, spanning economic and social, technological and agricultural dimensions, we explore the interrelationship between agricultural land abandonment policies and internet connectivity. Through spatial analysis and statistical modelling, we uncover the complex dynamics that shape rural landscapes, revealing a nuanced relationship between land use decisions and digitalisation. Our findings show that the preservation of agricultural land can act as a catalyst for access to digital resources, while policies that encourage abandonment can hinder technological progress. This research contributes to a better understanding of rural development dynamics and highlights the importance of comprehensive methods to land use policy formulation in the digital age. Our study calls for greater attention to the economic, social and environmental impacts of land use decisions, and urges policy makers to consider the implications for access to digital resources and sustainable development. Despite similarities in pre-treatment quality of life indicators, the treated group, which initially had better internet access, experienced a decline in connectivity after minor treatment. Taking control on potential biases such as pre-selection and endogeneity, our study highlights the need for future research to investigate different intensities of land abandonment policies and the wider impacts of internet access on rural economies and communities, particularly in heterogeneous rural regions.