Degrees of rurality: a proposed measurement framework for Argentina

Authors

  • Iván Albina Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS)/Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas-Universidad Nacional de La Plata (IIE-UNLP)
  • Leandro Gasparini Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS)-IIE-UNLP y Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)
  • Pablo Gluzmann Centro de Estudios Distributivos, Laborales y Sociales (CEDLAS)-UNLP y CONICET

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59339/rds7y254

Keywords:

Rurality, Multidimensional Index, Spatial Inequality, Population Censuses, Argentina

Abstract

This study contributes to the measurement of ‘degrees of rurality’ in Argentina. It proposes a multidimensional relative rurality index that integrates INDEC’s traditional classification of areas with census data and estimates of distances to population centres. As robustness tests, the results are compared with those obtained from night-time lights and satellite imagery. In addition to presenting maps of the degree of rurality for the whole of Argentina, the study provides a comprehensive characterisation of the population by rurality categories for the year 2022 and of changes over the 2010–2022 intercensal period. This characterisation incorporates key socio-economic variables, such as household income, which go beyond the information available in the censuses. Through a more granular measurement of rurality, the study contributes to a better characterisation of the needs and realities of populations living in isolated and transitional areas.

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References

Abbate, N., Gasparini, L., Gluzmann, P., Montes-Rojas, G., Sznaider, I. y Yatche, T. (2023). Ingreso estructural por área geográfica: una aplicación para Argentina. Anales de la Asociación Argentina de Economía Política, Mendoza, 2023.

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Rodriguez, G.M. (2022). Cartografía de radios censales de Argentina corregidos, completados y estandarizados de 1991, 2001, 2010 y 2022. CONICET. (conjunto de datos). Recuperado de http://hdl.handle.net/11336/149711

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Waldorf, B. (2006). A continuous multi-dimensional measure of rurality: moving beyond threshold measures. Ponencia presentada en la Annual Meeting of American Agricultural Economics Associations, Long Island, California.

Waldorf, B. y Kim, A. (2015). “Defining and measuring rurality in the US: from typologies to continuous indices.” En Workshop on Rationalizing Rural Classifications. Washington D.C. Recuperado de http://sites.nationalacademies.org/cs/groups/dbassesite/documents/webpage/dbasse_168031.pdf.

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Published

01-07-2026

Issue

Section

Papers

How to Cite

Degrees of rurality: a proposed measurement framework for Argentina. (2026). Desarrollo Económico. Revista De Ciencias Sociales, 65(246), 27-63. https://doi.org/10.59339/rds7y254