為了因應農業部門的式微，台灣鄉村地區的產業結構已經逐漸轉型，但是在全球化的趨勢下，都市漸漸成為世界經濟競爭的主體，「知識、創意」則取代「土地、勞工、資本」成為發展的泉源，鄉村以其有限的資源，在現代城際競爭的經濟體系下，將難以競爭成長，本文因此認為，鄉村發展策略必須以「增進城鄉互動」為基礎，以建立次級都市體系為手段，整合生活、生產、生態環境，鄉村才有機會與都市共同成長，並達到永續發展的理想。
Because of the declining agricultural sector the rural industry is being restructured in Taiwan. In the process of globalization, technological progression based on knowledge and innovation is substituting for labor, land, and capital as the major source of development. The state power is weakening and cities are emerging as direct players in the world economy. In this arena of inter-city competition, the ability of rural areas to grow is limited. This paper therefore suggests the formation of rural policy should be based on promoting urban-rural interaction. The establishment of a secondary city system is essential to incorporate living, ecological concerns and the production environment. Unless policy makers consider urban and rural areas as integrated, the development of rural Taiwan will not be sustainable.
