Euro-Commentary : Scenario Analysis and Regional Economic Development: The Case of Mid Wales

The scenario approach to developing foresight, to improve policies supporting rural economic development, is discussed and illustrated with an application in the Mid Wales region of the United Kingdom, which displays characteristic rural problems, including agricultural decline, demographic imbalance, and sparsity and remoteness of populations. Conclusions which may be drawn from this application suggest that the approach helps to confront and deal with the considerable uncertainties involved in strategic decision making at the regional level by developing a shared understanding among key opinion-formers.