Articles – Page 112 – Regional Science Inquiry

NETWORKED SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION INEQUALITIES IN BORDER AREAS

Vassileios Vescoukis

School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University Athens,

Heroon Polytechniou str. 9, Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens

v.vescoukis@cs.ntua.gr

and

Anastasia Stratigea

School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, National Technical University Athens,

Heroon Polytechniou str. 9, Zographou Campus, 15780 Athens

stratige@central.ntua.gr

Abstract

The focus of this paper is on network integration issues and their potential to support the development of ICTs applications in education in border and peripheral areas. The paper elaborates on the concept of ‘networked school’ as the core of educational applications in such areas, considered as a ‘gate’, through which they can get access to knowledge stock and information outside their frontiers. Such developments can complement traditional educational processes at the primary and secondary school level, but also enhance vocational training prospects in less privileged regions.

AGRI-FOOD TRADITIONAL PRODUCTS: FROM CERTIFICATION TO THE MARKET – PORTUGUESE RECENT EVOLUTION

Luís TIBÉRIO

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

and

Diniz Francisco

PhD researchers at CETRAD and Lectures at Department of Economics, Sociology and Management/University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Av. Almeida Lucena, 1. 5000-660 Vila Real – Portugal.

Correspondent Author, fdiniz@utad.pt, Tel.: +351 2593092200, Fax: +351 2593092249

Abstract

(EC) Regulations 2081/92 and 2082/92, replaced by Council Regulations (EC) 510/2006 and 509/2006, respectively, are an important contribution to establishing the foundations of European Policy on agri-food quality. They include the protection of agricultural as well as food product designations at European level, particularly those which bear a close relationship with their production area and which, due to their geographical origin and/or specific modes of production, present distinctive characteristics. Under those regulations a thousand designations are estimated to be protected within the European Union, of which about eight hundred are regularly present in the markets, accounting for a 14.2 billion Euro turnover. Portugal alone has 120 protected designations (15% of all European designations) which originate a seventy million Euro turnover (0.5% of the turnover generated by the PDO/PGI at European level). Fifteen years after the first PDO/PGI products have appeared on the national market, we believe it is important to look into the state of the art of these products in Portugal. The main goal of the present paper is to provide an overall view on the main trends of the PDO/PGI products sector at national level. The methodology used consists of a descriptive analysis of a set of specific indicators regarding three main variables: Production; Prices and Commercialization. Globally, this type of products is not very commercially widespread, despite the positive sustained evolution registered by some. As a rule these products have a poor productive dimension, which in a way may explain the lack of internationalization of the sector.

FRAGILE AND STRUCTURALLY WEAK RURAL AREAS. THE CASE OF ARAGÓN (SPAIN), 1900-2001

Luis LANASPA

(Corresponding author)

FEYE, Universidad de Zaragoza. Gran Vía 2, 50005 Zaragoza (Spain)

fax: 976 761996, e-mail: llanas@unizar.es.

Fernando PUEYO

FEYE, Universidad de Zaragoza. Gran Vía 2, 50005 Zaragoza (Spain)

Fernando SANZ

FEYE, Universidad de Zaragoza. Gran Vía 2, 50005 Zaragoza (Spain)

Abstract:

The fragile and structurally weak rural areas, in European Union terminology, are areas with important difficulties in maintaining their population and highly peripheral in nature. Generally, they have an aged population, a low density of population, a weight of the primary sector higher than the European average and communication difficulties. In this paper, the autonomous community of Aragón, which shows all the above-mentioned characteristics, is taken as an example of this type of region. The analyses carried out, both descriptive and with the adequate statistical and econometric techniques, during the period 1900-2001 permit us, taking the evolution of the population of Aragón as a possible archetype, to establish the characteristic patterns and behaviours of this type of areas. This knowledge is, without doubt, basic for successfully designing the correct regional and supra-regional policies that will allow the reduction of economic and demographic imbalances, giving rise to a better structured territory.