OpenFields

1361: Rural disadvantage?

This paper is summarised from the section entitled ‘Rural disadvantage?’ in the Consumer Focus report ‘Rural consumers in the UK’.

Year of Publication2011

Consumers in rural areas face market failure, through a lack of choice and information on switching suppliers and by structural barriers caused by geography, population density and lack of competition to keep prices on a par with urban areas. Vulnerability, for example having a disability, language barrier or being on a low income can be far greater impacts than in urban areas. Travelling distances can also create problems, especially for those without a car or on a low income. However there is little evidence to show that consumers in rural areas actually see themselves as “disadvantaged‟.

This item is categorised as follows

• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > UK rural policy
• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > Economic development
• Subject Collection > Rural policy & development > European rural policy

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