Assessing the Adequacy of Territorial Indicators for Rural Sustainability: A Typological Approach in Romania

Abstract

This study examines the adequacy of territorial indicators in assessing rural sustainability at
the local level, addressing the limitations of standardised monitoring frameworks in capturing
spatial and functional diversity. Recognising the heterogeneity of rural areas, the research
adopts a typological approach based on three rural contexts (peri-urban, intermediate, and deep
rural). A set of demographic, social, and infrastructural indicators is applied to three case
studies in Southern Romania, each representing a distinct spatial configuration. The analysis
moves beyond measuring development outcomes by evaluating how effectively indicators
reflect context-specific dynamics. The results reveal significant variations in indicator
adequacy across rural typologies. While certain indicators perform well in peri-urban areas,
their explanatory value decreases in more remote contexts, where structural constraints and
informal dynamics are not adequately captured. These findings highlight the need for a
context-sensitive, territorially grounded approach to sustainability assessment and contribute
to improving indicator-based monitoring frameworks.