International conference was convened by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Rural Policy Research Institute, and The Countryside Agency and gathered at the Airlie Center near Washington, D.C. on March 25 and 26, 2004.

Foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Conference conclusions -- Pt. 1. The need for new rural policy: The new economic imperative in rural regions / Donald Johnston -- Thinking regionally in a globalizing economy / Alan Greenspan -- Prosperity and productivity / David Sampson -- Pt. 2. The rural policy laboratory: New regional partnerships in the United States / Gilbert G. Gonzalez -- Rural entrepreneurship: a cooperative case study / Bob Militello -- The micro-region strategy in Mexico / Antonio Sánchez Díaz de Rivera -- Linking rural policy and regional development in western Canada / Oryssia Lennie -- Reducing the territorial divide in France: redefining regions / Nicolas Jacquet -- Federal co-ordination in Austria / Wolf Huber -- The living countryside in the Netherlands / Kees de Ruiter -- Rural development in Europe: approaches and future perspectives / Francesco Mantino -- Pt. 3. The future of rural policy: Five themes in the future of rural policy / Mark Drabenstott -- Where is rural policy headed? / Sergio Soto Priante -- Challenges for the future of rural policy / Richard Wakeford -- Annex A. Conference program -- Tables -- Figures.

How do we ensure that the millions of people living in rural areas have the skills to be productive and build prosperity? Policy officials and experts from 15 countries, including the entire G7, came together in Washington D.C. to discuss the need for innovative new approaches to rural policy. Chairman Alan Greenspan, from the US Federal Reserve, opened the conference by stressing the crucial importance of flexibility in enhancing economic welfare and economic growth, cautioning policy makers to "be careful when utilizing subsidies as they have exceptionally negative long-term implications". As globalisation expands the boundaries of competition, rural regions must leverage their distinct local assets to create new competitive advantages. Innovative approaches like the 'Eat the View' programme in the United Kingdom and the EU LEADER programme are proving that smart governance initiatives can help rural areas thrive.