Remote work in rural and peripheral areas

At the national and local level, several initiatives have been launched or received significant additional funding – as in the case of France – since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic to support remote work in rural, peripheral, or marginalised areas via the creation and expansion of coworking spaces. IR Share has provided a case study about “tiers-lieux” (“third places” in English) that defines physical places dedicated to a variety of activities, where the creation of economic value is linked with social utility, and work mixes with other aspects of collective life. “Tiers-lieux” allow for social interactions and informal exchange, as well as promoting creativity, co-creation and collective projects. A tier-lieu can be for example a coworking space, a fablab, an “atelier partagé” (shared workshop), a makerspace or hackerspace, a “garage solidaire” (solidarity garage) or a repair café. It can be seen as an instrument to support teleworkers in rural areas.

Published: April 18, 2024