"Rural England plays a significant role in the economy of the United Kingdom, but an even larger social and cultural role. And it is unique among OECD regions, in that it is geographically compact, with rural inhabitants generally no more than a half hour's drive from an urban area. There is thus a vast amount of interaction between rural and urban populations in England." The government has adopted mainstreaming as its rural policy strategy, to ensure that people in rural and urban England have access to the same policies and programs. This report includes discussions on governance structures and decentralization, delivering public services, economic development, and the importance of improving connectivity in rural areas.--Publisher's description