ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an opportunity for a reader to obtain theoretical and practical knowledge on the subject matter of development based on case studies coming from 12 countries (Australia, Ghana, Spain, Indonesia, India, Israel, Japan, Nigeria, Poland, Republic of South Africa, Romania and Italy) located on four continents. It focuses on the basics of regional and local development planning, including theoretical solutions and approaches to development policies, as well as methodological aspects. The book proposes the fact that while agricultural areas might be shrinking, at the same time agriculture will be involved in the creation of new economic functions, which will increase its competitiveness. Local and regional development is a positive and predominantly lasting process in terms of quantitative, qualitative and structural changes taking place in economy of territorial units at various spatial scales.
