Identifying areas of rural deprivation using social area analysis

Abstract

Cullingford D. and Openshaw S. (1982) Identifying areas of rural deprivation using social area analysis, Reg. Studies 16, 409–418. The recent surge of interest in rural problems has not yet resulted in any clear indication as to where the principal areas of rural deprivation are to be found. A review of alternative approaches to measuring rural deprivation suggests several reasons for this failure, particularly the emphasis on case studies and the rejection of census analysis methods. A modified social area approach is suggested as being the best practical means of identifying rural deprivation areas on a national scale and its utility is demonstrated using census data for Northern England and individual data from a large national household survey.