The concept of rurality is well-trodden ground in policy discussions, but less attention has been given to its more elusive sibling, remote-rurality.

A study published in the World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development has looked at this concept and reveals the complexities of defining and addressing the needs of remote-rural areas, particularly in Scotland, where the distinction is not merely academic but vital to economic sustainability and infrastructure planning.

Sayed Abdul Majid Gilani and Naveed Yasin of the Canadian University Dubai, UAE, and Peter Duncan and Anne M.J. Smith of Glasgow Caledonian University, UK, introduce five dimensions to discuss remote-rural regions: population size, proximity to urban centers, level of development, cultural characteristics, and social perception. These categories highlight the inadequacy of relying on a single definition for remote-rural areas, emphasizing the need for a multidimensional approach.

Defining "rural" is no simple task, the team points out, as various countries use different metrics—such as population thresholds of under 2,500 in the U.S. and fewer than 10,000 in the UK. However, the addition of remote-rurality introduces further layers of isolation, limited services, and distinct cultural identities that demand attention from researchers and thence from policymakers.

In Scotland, the government distinguishes between "accessible-rural" and "remote-rural" regions, the latter being considerably more isolated from urban hubs. This distinction is more than theoretical—it has implications for infrastructure, most notably transport, food availability, and now, broadband connectivity, which remains alarmingly inadequate in many remote-rural areas.

• Read More