The livability of rural areas, Article based on the general starting-point that the livability of rural areas will be experienced as insufficient by those people or groups that have iscovered that their level of living does not agree with the level of their aspirations. In historical retrospect it is traced how and when this discrepancy between level of living and pursued standard of living came into being. Processes of individualization and emancipation are discussed. Stress is laid on the influence of marginal groups such as the groups without landed property, and those under tutelage in the patriarchal system, notably the labourers, the women and the youth. Finally some inplications for future development are considered, and topics for further research mentioned.
