ABSTRACT
This part conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters. The part identifies territorial drivers during Period 4.0. Rural areas are at a crossroad that is characterised by digitisation. It focuses on urban-rural spatial trends, with areas becoming more integrated, benefitting from symbiosis and complementarity in relationships, not only rivalry. Rural residents will continue to be a heterogeneous group encompassing those individuals who do not require information and communications technology (ICT) skills. Elements of rivalry are found mainly in terms of objective conditions regarding the critical mass of rural amenities. With regard to improving physical and virtual accessibility of rural areas, new urban-rural trends are emerging, related to investments in ICT infrastructure, logistic centres, and industrial-commercial zones all of which increase the attractiveness of the suburban countryside. The countryside is changing strongly through urban-rural relations while the importance of traditional agricultural concepts of the countryside diminishes over time.
