INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENTOF DISTRICTS IN BULGARIA - PERSPECTIVES OF RURAL REGIONS

The paper examines important aspects of spatial differences in three leading areas - social, economic and environmental. The main aim is to present the results of the development and approbation of an author's methodology for assessing the existence of "inclusive regional development" - a development that does not lead to critical regional differences. Its application at a district level for Bulgaria allows to determine those of them that are the most problematic and do not meet the requirements for inclusive development. There is a special focus on districts with a high share of employed in agriculture. Nine districts are classified as rural from an economic point of view. Reasons for their insufficient social progress are outlined. These nine districts are studied using different statistical methods.