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Original Articles - Appraisal and Rural Economics

Stakeholders’ perceptions of factors shaping quality of life in rural areas: Evidence from two Italian case studies

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  • Maria Andreoli,
  • Francesca Gerini,
  • Mario Cozzi,
  • Severino Romano,
  • Fabio Boncinelli,
  • Leonardo Casini,
  • Enrico Marone,
  • Martijn Burger,
  • Mauro Viccaro
Maria Andreoli
Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Italy
Francesca Gerini
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
Mario Cozzi
Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Italy
Severino Romano
Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Italy
Fabio Boncinelli
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
Leonardo Casini
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
Enrico Marone
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Italy
Martijn Burger
Erasmus Happiness Economics Research Organization, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Mauro Viccaro
Department of Agricultural, Forestry, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Basilicata, Italy
DOI: https://doi.org/10.36253/aestim-18753

Published 2026-01-22

Keywords

  • well-being,
  • inner areas,
  • sustainable rural development,
  • local context,
  • place-based policy

Copyright (c) 2025 Maria Andreoli, Francesca Gerini, Mario Cozzi, Severino Romano, Fabio Boncinelli, Leonardo Casini, Enrico Marone, Martijn Burger, Mauro Viccaro

Creative Commons License

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

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Abstract

Rural areas play a crucial role in achieving sustainable development, yet they face persistent and recurring social issues such as demographic decline, limited access to essential services, and economic stagnation. Framed on community revitalization and place-based development, this study examines the factors influencing quality of life in marginal rural areas at high risk of abandonment, focusing on Basilicata and Tuscany—two Italian regions with distinct socio-economic profiles. Adopting a qualitative approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with local stakeholders to capture their lived experiences and perceptions of rural well-being and development opportunities. The analysis, supported by textual data processing, highlights shared and region-specific challenges. Key themes include service accessibility, demographic dynamics, economic opportunities, and governance capacity. Findings reveal that while both regions emphasize essential services and economic revitalization, their approaches differ: Basilicata stakeholders stress infrastructural deficits and demographic decline, whereas Tuscany stakeholders highlight rural diversification and place-based initiatives. These insights underscore the importance of local stakeholder perceptions in shaping rural development strategies. The study contributes to theoretical debates on rural well-being by demonstrating how stakeholder perspectives influence policy priorities and intervention strategies. It advocates for place-sensitive policies that enhance institutional capacity and leverage regional assets to promote sustainable rural community revitalization. These findings support the need for a context-specific approach to rural policy that integrates both qualitative and quantitative measures of well-being.

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