According to van der Ploeg [1998], rural development consists of a “balance of changing and stable elements” and that continuity and change have always characterized rural development [Van der Ploeg, 1998]. What kinds of changes are common for rural development in developed countries at the beginning of the 21st century? In our opinion the most decisive factor of social, economic, technological and cultural transformation in the 21st century is knowledge, which has influence on all spheres of human life. Burton-Jones [1999] noted that the gap between rich and poor nations is accelerating under “knowledge capitalism”. Knowledge-intensity can also lead to a growing gap within societies [Burton-Jones, 1999]. Knowledge-intensive Dynamics of scale and scope induce mechanisms for the retention of wealth that are different from the dynamics of mass production. The increasing role of the service sector, notably, generates another dynamic [Barras, 1990]. Today’s most advanced economies are fundamentally knowledge-based [Dunning, 2000] and the knowledge has become by far the most important factor determining standards of living - more important than land, capital or labour [Cooke, Leydesdorff, 2006]. Therefore, knowledge has influence on all spheres of human life. This paper is devoted to examining main changes in Lithuanian rural regions and determinants of rural development important for creation of knowledge society in the past and in the future. Analysed period starts from the restitution of Lithuania’s independence in 1990 and continues until recent days.
Vidickiene, D.; Melnikiene, R.; Gedminaite-Raudone, Z. 2014. Chapter IV.Development of Lithuanian rural regions towards knowledge society In Rural economies in Central Eastern European Countries after EU enlargement / Monograph. Instytut Ekonomiki Rolnictwa i Gospodarki Zywnosciowej - Panstwowy Instytut Badawczy Nr. 110.1:47-65. ISBN 978-83-7658-489-8.
