Place influences the ways shocks are experienced at the local level, including the immediate response and the implications for long-term development. This is why some communities are able to adapt and thrive, while others can be left behind or locked into undesirable development.
While shocks are a challenge, they also offer windows of opportunity to make positive changes. But to leverage this opportunity requires a clear understanding of the relationships between shocks and development, as well as understanding the key indicators of resilience that influence responses.
There is a growing acceptance of the need for place-based policy and programs to support rural development—including responding to shocks. However, truly place-based policy and programs can be challenging for provincial and federal governments and support organizations to operationalize. As a result, while there are many rural development policies and programs, there are also many gaps that limit their efficacy.
Critical gaps persist in our understanding of:
- How shocks influence rural development.
- The relationships between indicators of resilience and responding to shocks.
- How to operationalize this knowledge into effective interventions that lead to desired outcomes.
In a future where shocks are expected to worsen, addressing these gaps is vital for enabling rural places to navigate complex challenges.
The goal of this multi-year collaborative research is to examine how shocks shape rural development paths and use this understanding to enhance the design of effective interventions.
Project Resources
Please check back for project resources.
This project is in partnership with the College of the Rockies and is supported by funding from ETSI-BC.
