In a straightjacket? Targeting deprivation in rural Scotland in the context of localism and austerity

There is a long history of area-based interventions targeted at places seen as being particularly disadvantaged. However, the implementation such approaches problematic in rural areas on number grounds, including more dispersed patterns deprivation and reliance high-profile indices multiple that are arguably less appropriate contexts. While there growing interest place-based service delivery localism means to tackling geographical inequalities, this sits alongside pursuit fiscal austerity by national government has disproportionately affected local expenditure. Based case study two largely regions South Scotland, paper explores how spatial inequalities understood addressed regions, what evidence used basis for targeting ‘deprived’ areas. The results show although specific variety ways, broadly undertaken within nationally determined frameworks, particular based those indicators identified central constituting an base. It argued fundamental tensions around whether aim type direct resources problems, or individuals' residence proxy their likely experience types deprivation. This ambiguity implications where closely linked with individual- household-level opportunities authorities contest dominance ‘urban-centric’ indicators, these limited control ongoing hollowing out through austerity.