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Commercial Counterurbanisation: An Emerging Force in Rural Economic Development

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  • Gary Bosworth

    (Economic Research and Development Unit, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, England)

Abstract

After rapid urban growth and industrialisation, the postwar era has seen counterurbanisation become a dominant demographic trend in the UK. Much has been written about the residential patterns of counterurbanisation, but the associated growth of rural business has attracted less attention. The author proposes the term ‘commercial counterurbanisation’ to describe the growth of rural economies stimulated by inward migration. In the North East of England, in-migrants own over half of rural microbusinesses, they are more growth-oriented, and they are responsible for considerably more employment than the whole of the agriculture sector. In arguing that commercial counterurbanisation is more than just a spatial decentralisation of business activity, the author explores the social as well as the economic motivations of ‘counterurbanising’ business owners. Commercial counterurbanisation can be a two-stage process, as the decision to work in a rural area or run a rural business may occur several years after a residential move. Where this time lag exists, in-migrant business owners will be influenced by different factors in different locations. In the context of neoendogenous development, the balance of local and extralocal forces is particularly significant. This leads to the conclusion that in-migrant business owners need to become embedded into the rural community for the wider rural economy to realise the maximum benefits from commercial counterurbanisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Gary Bosworth, 2010. "Commercial Counterurbanisation: An Emerging Force in Rural Economic Development," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 42(4), pages 966-981, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envira:v:42:y:2010:i:4:p:966-981
    DOI: 10.1068/a42206
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. E. Green, 1997. "A Question of Compromise? Case Study Evidence on the Location and Mobility Strategies of Dual Career Households," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(7), pages 641-657.
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