Drivers and Barriers to the Competitiveness of Rural Areas in Bulgaria

Mariya Peneva – University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Business Faculty, Department of Natural Resource Economics, Student town, 8 th December street 19, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

Yovka Bankova – University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Business Faculty, Department of Natural Resource Economics, Student town, 8 th December street 19, 1700 Sofia, Bulgaria

Abstract: Rural areas are diverse and they offer specific sets of economic, social, and environmental functions crucial for sustainable development of countries. Based on that, they compete for investments, tourists, and population, leading to regional imbalances. This study is about the multifaceted dynamics of rural competitiveness in Bulgaria, aiming to reveal its complex nature, the key drivers and the barriers to growth. The main goal is to examine the factors influencing the competitiveness of rural areas in Bulgaria in various dimensions. The mixed-methods approach for analysis is applied, and results present comprehensive knowledge for policymakers, stakeholders, and researchers interested in sustainable rural development. The study provides insights into the most and least competitive rural areas in Bulgaria, based on the constructed index of competitiveness, and suggests practical recommendations for informed policy implementation and governance.

10th International Scientific Conference ERAZ 2024 – Selected Papers: KNOWLEDGE BASED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,  hybrid – online, virtually and in person, Lisbon, Portugal, June 6, 2024

ERAZ Conference Selected Papers published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans – Belgrade, Serbia

ERAZ conference partners: Faculty of Logistics, University of Maribor, Maribor (Slovenia); University of National and World Economy – UNWE, Sofia (Bulgaria); Center for Political Research and Documentation (KEPET), Research Laboratory of the Department of Political Science of University of Crete (Greece); Institute of Public Finance – Zagreb (Croatia); Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Ohrid, University of St. Kliment Ohridski from Bitola (North Macedonia)

ERAZ Conference 2024 Selected Papers: ISBN 978-86-80194-87-5, ISSN 2683-5568,

DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ERAZ.S.P.2024

Creative Commons Non Commercial CC BY-NC: This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission. 

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