In the first part of the project regions with increasing and decreasing employment opportunities are identified and an analysis is made of the socioeconomic situation in those regions. In the second part the interaction process of the local agricultural actors, other economic actors and policy makers is examined in regions which succeeded in maintaining or augmenting employment opportunities during the past decade. In the third part it is assessed to which extent the story of these "successful regions" can serve as an example for regions lagging behind and which inputs for an integrated rural policy can be recommended.