Définir l'espace rural ? De la difficulté d'une définition conceptuelle à la nécessité d'une délimitation statistique

Usual definitions of urban areas often oppose this category to urban areas. Rural areas are then defined by low population density, low part of built land areas and presence of agriculture. This paper aims at suggesting a definition based on spatial economics theory. We focus on mechanisms that are able to explain the spatial dispersion of population and activities. Two categories of non urban areas are considered : on one hand, rural surrounding cities, where changes come from population spread mechanisms; on the other hand, rural areas with no urban influence, structured by small employment centres, where centrifugal forces are responsible for the location of activities. This approach is then compared to the zoning in urban and rural areas in order to show how they converge but also what the limits of the two approaches.