Rural development and possibilities for its measurement with special overview of AP [the Autonomous Province of] Vojvodina [Serbia]. [Doctoral dissertation] | Ruralna razvijenost i mogućnosti njenog merenja sa posebnim osvrtom na AP Vojvodinu [Srbija]. Doktorska disertacija

This PhD thesis has resulted from an empirical research related to theoretical and methodological design of the grounds for the measurement and management of rural development in AP Vojvodina (Serbia) on sustainable basis. The primary goal of this empirical research in the process of obtaining relevant results in the scope of this PhD thesis was to ensure relevant basis for the conception, building, implementation and evaluation of a sustainable rural policy at macro level – AP Vojvodina level. The introduction of a differential approach and creation of a basis for multifunctionality at the local level (including also the level of areas – districts, which in present days do not exist) was the second important goal. In other words, the objective was to leave, by decentralizing the territory of AP Vojvodina, to local stakeholders the development activities which, based on a sufficient amount of data and indicators relevant to local level management, allow the most efficient rural development. Following the set goals, OECD and EU methodologies were used for the purpose of the research. The OECD methodology provides the unique internationally recognizable definition of rural areas. When determining rural areas based on the mentioned methodological procedure, there are two hierarchical levels of geographic units: local communities and regions. The European Union has no harmonized definition of the concept rural or an official typology of regions by levels of rural characteristics. The important thing for Eurostat practice is that all regional data refer to the Nomenclature of Statistical Territorial Units (NUTS) being a coherent system for the division of territory for the purpose of harmonized statistical data collection, compilation and dissemination at regional level. According to the methodology of Eurostat on creating development units as different levels, EU territorialization has been done. Based on this approach, suggested in those methodologies, one has attempted to build a theoretical and methodological frame for rural regionalization relevant for AP Vojvodina rural development measuring.