Eveline van Leeuwen – författare

An array of expert contributors emphasise the critical role of individuals and communities in transitioning toward a circular society, establishing the importance of local actions alongside stakeholder and societal engagement. The critical impact of policymaking and collaborative efforts in fostering circular economic activities is also examined, including comparisons of regional approaches and the development of inclusive strategies to address challenges. Regions, Cities and the Circular Economy further analyses the key drivers and issues when safeguarding natural resources, reducing waste and energy usage, and fostering an ecologically virtuous and socially equitable society.

This engaging book is an essential read for scholars of geography, economics and urban and city planning. It is also an excellent resource for policymakers and those making key organisational decisions at both local and national levels.

Modern Europe has rural roots. Even today, as much as 90 per cent of Europe (EU25) consists of rural areas in which half of the population lives. While different rural areas often face different challenges, the shift from agricultural production towards a multifunctional landscape and the increasing value assigned to environmental values affect all rural areas.

The ambition to develop a more diversified rural economy, as well as the bottom-up approach and local focus of many rural policies, require a clear knowledge of the current socio-economic function of towns and town-hinterland linkages. Therefore, the aim of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the current function of towns in Europe in general and in the Netherlands more specifically. By using both micro- and macro-approaches, the multifaceted relationships between town-hinterland and the rural economy are explored at different spatial levels and for different actors, in particular for households, farms and firms.