en: News

In rural regions, the lack of sufficiently connected transport services makes it difficult to access essential public facilities. In the PIVERE research project, we examine how a more attractive public transport system can positively influence regional economic development of rural areas.

In March, the Volkswagen Foundation’s "Perspectives on Wealth" symposium took place in Hanover. Together with her project partners from Kenya and Uganda, Kerstin Nolte presented results from her project; Anika Muder also participated. Afterwards, the project partners visited the Thünen Institute.

Dimitria Freitas and Anna Kremer presented current research projects at a workshop for early-career female researchers in regional economics at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

From 15 to 20 February, the annual Winter Seminar of the Society for Regional Research (GfR) took place in Innsbruck. Against the impressive backdrop of the Tyrolean Alps, the six-day event offered an intensive exchange of recent developments in the field of regional science.

Martin Simmler, Alexander Kopka und Jan Cornelius Peters (from left to right)

On March 16 and 17, the closing conference of the funding scheme “Faktor K – Research on the Role of Culture in Rural Areas“ (BULE+; German Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity) took place in Würzburg. Gesine Tuitjer and Lorena Nehmzow presented the findings of their project.

Lorena Nehmzow and Gesine Tuitjer (right) at the conference “Culture Moves the Countryside – Dialogue with Research and Practice.”

In a new working group established by the Academy for Spatial Development in the Leibniz Association, 13 experts are developing proposals for reforming municipal finances. Thünen researchers Christian Bergholz and Dominik Frankenberg are contributing their expertise.

Members of the ARL Working Group on Local Government Finance Reform

More than 700 participants discussed regional economic policy options for shaping rural and urban areas. Together with the DIHK, Petrik Runst and Jan Cornelius Peters organized a workshop on the economic potential of rural areas.

The speakers: Petrik Runst, Jan Cornelius Peters, Alena Kühlein (DIHK), Max Jankowsky (entrepreneur, President of the Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce)

Despite being employed, women often take on the majority of care work and are more likely to work part-time than men. To mark International Women's Day on 8 March, Thünen scientists have written two new expert articles on this topic.

A woman is crouching in front of a toddler in a changing room and putting a jacket on the child.

An analysis of current economic data by the Thünen Institute shows that rural areas are particularly affected by job losses in the manufacturing sector. These regions are at risk of losing their economic base.

The graph shows that the number of companies established in the manufacturing sector has declined most sharply in rural areas.

In the latest issue of the Journal of Public Finance and Fiscal Federalism, Dominik Frankenberg examines opportunities for municipalities to participate in the value creation associated with the expansion of renewable energy in rural areas.