Population dynamics in southern Europe : A local-scale analysis, 1961-2011
Zambon, Ilaria (Universitat de València. Departament de Geografia)
Rontos, Kostas (University of the Aegean. Department of Sociology)
Serra Ruiz, Pere (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Colantoni, Andrea (Tuscia University. Department of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences (DAFNE))
Salvati, Luca (Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA))

Date:	2019
Abstract:	Different socioeconomic, historical, political, and cultural factors have influenced long-term settlement patterns and demographic structures in Europe. Southern Europe is considered a relatively homogeneous region as far as settlement characteristics and population dynamics are concerned. Within-country local variability in the spatial distribution of population is high, and inherent differences across countries may outline distinct demographic patterns at regional scale. A comparative, local-scale analysis of population distribution in five countries (Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Cyprus) over a relatively long time period (1961-2011) contributes to identify latent demographic trends in Mediterranean Europe at the spatial scale of Local Administrative Units (LAU). A spatially-explicit analysis of basic indicators of population density and demographic change allows identification of territorial disparities, reflecting local-scale settlement patterns common to different countries (e. g. , population growth along coastal districts). These patterns consolidate a metropolitan hierarchy centered on large-mainly compact-cities and more dispersed conurbations along coastal areas. At the same time, the examined countries present different territorial contexts resulting in distinct population dynamics in turn influenced by internal (e. g. , national policies, culture and local identity, class segregation) and exogenous (e. g. , economic cycle, urbanization models) factors. A spatially-explicit analysis of demographic trends at local scale may contribute to rethinking urban strategies and adapting spatial planning to heterogeneous socioeconomic contexts across Europe.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Territorial disparities ; Demographic trends ; Regional development ; Southern Europe ; Indicators
Published in:	Sustainability, Vol. 11, Núm. 1 (2019) , art. 109, ISSN 2071-1050

DOI: 10.3390/su11010109

12 p, 2.0 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Experimental sciences > Grupo de Investigación Métodos y Aplicaciones en Teledetección y Sistemas de Información Geográfica (GRUMETS)
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles