Despite the fact that the rural commuter belts of cities are major loci of population change, economic growth and dynamic social change within city regions, most research tends to ignore this area while focusing on the built-up city core. However, with the current emphasis on the role of rural areas in policy debates, it is vital to recognize the importance of the 'commuter belt'. By comparing four major European cities (in England, France, Germany and Spain), this book offers the first comparative investigation of the dynamism of city rural hinterlands. It assesses whether rural areas will become effectively integrated into quality of life improvements as a result of their inter-dependencies with cities, focusing on the critical arenas of employment change, housing and service provision. In doing so, it investigates how change in these three fields impact on the quality of life and physical environment of rural hinterlands.

'The European rural-urban fringe is a neglected spatial territory in academic and policy research. This book offers a unique analysis of international attempts to understand and explain urban pressures on rural areas. Urban and rural geographers, planners, anthropologists and economic development specialists will find the book an invaluable contribution to debates on the future of the European territory.' Mark Tewdwr-Jones, University College London, UK 'The City's Hinterland highlights broad conceptual issues relating to change in city hinterlands, provides extensive comparative material on the process involved, and will be of particular value to policy-makers, practitioners, researchers and students of contemporary process of change in the European countryside.' Mary Cawley, National University of Ireland

Keith Hoggart is Professor in the Department of Geography at King's College London, UK.