Toward a territorial approach to rural development : International experiences and implications for

The persistence of rural poverty, concentration in rural areas of the most extreme forms of poverty, and rising inequality in the distribution of rural incomes remain vexing aspects of rural development in Latin America, in spite of expensive programs intended at reducing poverty and inequality. Mexico is no exception to this observation. This widespread failure calls upon exploring alternative approaches to rural development that may have greater chances of success. Taking an approach that distinguishes between marginal and favorable areas, and that seeks to integrate rural and urban activities in a territorial dimension centered around regional economic projects and the economic incorporation of the poor is one such option that deserves further consideration. It has been introduced in Mexico through the Microregions Strategy. While it is too early to evaluate this program, we derive lessons from international experiences that provide guidelines to assess the Mexican strategy.