Well-being and rurality: a spatial tool for rural development programs evaluation

Improving the quality of life of populations is one of the priorities of rural development policies. Based on the ca- pability approach, the aim is to realise a Quality of Life (QoL) index measuring territorial disparities. The QoL index, aggregated by a non-compensatory method, is compared with rural and inland areas of the study area, Basilicata region. The analysis shows a clear relation- ship between features of QoL and rurality/peripheral- ity degree and a global QoL below the regional average for 61% of municipalities. In these areas, as expected, the high level of environmental protection is offset by lower socio-economic opportunities but, the possibility to evaluate them through an index over time can help policymakers to address rural policies and evaluate their effects.