The Compendium of Urban and Regional Development

1. Historical development of the village
2. Forms of villages
3. Structural change
4. Essential characteristics of the village
5. Spatial category
6. Current problems and outlook

Villages are not homogenous settlement, economic and social areas. Their diversity reflects different spatial, social and economic realities which are influenced by demographic factors (growing and shrinking villages). The main structural features include the influence of agriculture, the unity of the civil and economic community, the direct connection with the natural environment and landscape as well as the limited number of inhabitants and population density.

1. Village development as a concept
2. Trends in village development
3. Stakeholders in village development
4. Steering and supporting village development
5. Village development in the future

Economic and demographic circumstances as well as the momentum of local stakeholders bring about change processes in smaller settlement units. Various funding programmes, planning and implementation instruments aim to support sustainable village development.