By the Ekistic Scale of Doxiades and the World Society of Ekistics, a village is defined as having 40 to 1500 inhabitants. It has one or more neighbourhoods and at least one shop or similar food outlet, some production of foods and goods for its own use and for export outside its boundaries. Very broadly, a village is defined as the entity between a hamlet and a town, and often has its own local decision-making council or steering committee. These factors vary from country to country, and within countries from local culture to local culture.