Pechrová, M., Boukalová, K.
Page: 41-48
Local Action Groups (LAGs) are implementing LEADER principles in rural development. The aim of the paper is to create a typology of LAGs in the Czech Republic according to the factors linked to the individual features of LAG and to its organizational background. Four different groups of LAGs emerged: ‘stabilized’, ‘experienced’, ‘absorbing’, and ‘well-informed’. In the second step, it is assessed how particular groups fullfil selected features of the LEADER: knowledge transfer and bottom-up approach. We conclude that ‘stabilized’ and ‘experienced’ LAGs, which are functioning for longer time and LAGs’ manager has longer experiences with LAG operation, have better knowledge transfer than those ‘absorbing’ or ‘well-informed’. This suggests that the rural development is realized by the so-called ‘project class’. On the other hand, the most active people cooperating with LAG management are in ‘experienced’ and ‘absorbing’ groups.
Local Action Groups, neo-endogenous development, cluster analysis, Ward’s method, Euclidean distance