Does regional development explain international youth mobility? Spatial patterns and global/local determinants of the recent emigration of young Italians

In this essay, we tackle the issue of the international mobility of young Italians in relation to regional disparities. Our intention is to determine if and to what extent a relationship exists between regional development and the international mobility of young people. We analyze the international migration of Italian citizens aged 15-34 who left the country in the period 2010-2017 using several variables that reflect the varying conditions found in different NUTS 3-level regions in terms of economic dynamism, labor-market efficiency, social fragility, educational underdevelopment and spatial peripherality. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) models show that the international mobility of young Italians is very much dependent on local conditions and affected by spatial differences. It is greatest in the most economically dynamic areas of the country, in border regions and in metropolitan areas, with factors relating to spatial proximity and peripherality, imbalances in local labor markets, and paucity of human capital proving particularly significant

Development, territory, sustainability: some reflections on the role of urbanization and demographic dynamics

Urban concentration played an important role in economic growth overthe whole 20th century, being more recently less and less associated with the rate of population growth, suggesting the growing importance of other forces acting on a local scale. Large metropolitan regions, however, seem to escape from this general model, adhering to even more individual growth paths. Regional peculiarities also impact this framework, suggesting how cities growth is mostly unpredictable and largely volatile. Building models of urban growth means to take seriously into account the active constraints – basically land availability and spatial planning. These factors have the indirect objective of envisaging more sustainable urban models, allowing cities to approach sustainability objectives, and reducing environmental, economic, and social risks for the resident population. Moving from a sort of a structural crisis – characteristic of Southern Europe since decades – the present work reflects on a vast portfolio of theoretical approaches and empirical examples contributing to shift toward a resilience discourse in urban affairs. Focusing on both morphological and functional issues, these approaches may provide the appropriate vision to interpret metropolitan complexity in an upcoming urban world. Within this context, resilience of metropolitan regions can be understood as the ability to adapt to economic, technological, and political changes, affecting evolutionary dynamics and trajectories pursued by regional economies

Modelling geographical variations in fertility and population density of Italian and foreign populations at the local scale: A spatial Durbin approach for Italy (2002–2018).

Studies on fertility determinants have frequently pointed to the role that socio-economic, cultural and institutional factors play in shaping reproductive behaviours. Yet, little is known about these determinants at an ecological level, although it is widely recognised that demographic dynamics strongly interact with ecosystems. This research responds to the need to enhance the knowledge on variations in fertility across space with an analysis of the relationship between fertility and population density of Italians and foreigners in Italy at the municipal level for the period 2002–2018. Using global and local autocorrelation measures and a spatial Durbin model, we show that there is a negative association between the fertility and population density of the Italian population, while the density of foreigners is correlated with higher fertility. This second result poses new insights on the relationship between space and fertility. Moreover, we find that the features of neighbouring areas, measured by population density, contribute significantly to explaining spatial fertility variation, confirming the importance of the study of spatial diffusion in demographic processes

Spatializing Shannon entropy: a Gaussian Kernel approach to studying the territorial distribution of selected foreign population groups in Italy

The paper proposes an original extension of the Shannon Entropy index that incorporates the spatial dimension in measuring the territorial distribution of population groups. This methodological advancement is achieved through the use of a Gaussian Kernel approach, which enhances the utility of the Shannon Entropy index, particularly for processes that are inherently spatial, such as residential segregation and related phenomena. This spatialized entropy approach contributes theoretically by integrating spatial analysis with information theory, enabling multiscale assessments of spatial structure—an increasingly important objective in contemporary social science research. Compared to standard indices, this method enhances sensitivity to geographic context and facilitates a distance-based assessment that transcends the administrative boundaries of the phenomenon under study. An empirical application is presented, focusing on the spatial distribution of selected foreign groups residing in Italy. The results highlight notable characteristics of the index and suggest steps toward new approaches for measuring the territorial distribution of populations

Population Change and Residential Segregation in Italian Small Areas, 2011–2021: An Analysis With New Spatial Units

This article explores spatial patterns of demographic change and residential segregation in Italy over the past decade, a topic which has not been studied in detail in the literature. Population ageing and migration are unfolding rapidly in a number of European countries, generating tensions and challenges at local level. Aggregate regional or national statistics can conceal significant variations at local level, which are of considerable interest and relevance. This is particularly the case in Italy, where spatial heterogeneity and regional disparities are marked. The analysis presented in this paper uses a new source of data derived from large public archives, which permits comparisons to be made at local level with the 2011 census of population. In this way, it is possible to map out and to analyse demographic trends at a fine level of spatial definition. In order to exploit the potential of these data, the authors use a new set of spatial units which were derived by applying automatic rezoning procedures. These output areas are well suited to the study of the age structure of local populations, population change, and migration in a uniform way across the entire national territory, as the empirical results confirm

A local regression approach to studying single-person households and social isolation in the main Spanish cities: a new pathway of socio-spatial polarization?

The growing number of people living alone in single-person households is a recent trend which reveals the growing incidence of loneliness and social isolation. Loneliness has traditionally been associated with ageing, and problems of health and well-being. However, voluntarily loneliness among young people and professional groups is now on the rise, possibly linked to growing individualism, narcissism and, spatially, to a new dimension of socio-spatial segregation. This makes single-person households highly heterogeneous nowadays, and lends greater importance to their study. To address this issue, a census tract analysis was conducted in the four largest Spanish cities to examine the socio-spatial characteristics of single-person households. The study explored both their global traits and spatial and local heterogeneity using Geographically Weighted Regression models. Our results show that, in urban Spain, these types of households are closely linked to the presence of the immigrant population from the EU, the ageing population and people of working age, and show an inverse relationship with income level at local scale. This inverse relationship, together with the significant geographical concentration of single-person households, is of particular interest to ehp us draw conclusions which could facilitate planning and social dynamics in the cities analyzed. Finally, we reflect on the challenges that living alone and social isolation poses in the social context, and the importance of analyzing its effects and of promoting public urban policies that favor social cohesion and social encounters

Single-person households and social isolation. A socio-territorial approach in urban areas of Southern Europe

There has been a significant increase in single-person households in Europe. The studies that analyse this process have shown its relationship with the increase in physical and mental illnesses, or the perception of well-being. Similarly, social isolation has been addressed through the study of single-person households, with a particular focus on its relationship with ageing. However, little research has analysed the socio-economic contexts of single-person households. This contribution first develops a spatial approach to the study of single-person households in the main cities of Spain, Italy and Portugal. Later, using data from the 2021 census, a spatial statistical analysis is carried out at the census tract level. Thus, this contribution analyses the different socio-territorial characteristics of single-person households in the six selected cities (Lisbon, Porto, Milan, Rome, Madrid and Barcelona). Our results show how Italian cities have developed a spatial pattern characterised by dispersion in contrast to the Spanish and Portuguese cases, with a greater tendency towards the centrality of this type of household. In turn the importance of using spatial statistical methods for the study of social covariates related to loneliness and single-person households has also been noted

Residential Segregation and Accessibility: Exploring Inequalities in Urban Resources Access Among Social Groups

Residential segregation refers to the spatial separation between two or more social groups in urban areas. Originating from scholars of the Chicago School, this topic has since consolidated over time within the fields of urban and sociological studies. In the European context, the growing social disparities and levels of segregation experienced by cities in recent years have renewed interest in the study of the spatial distribution of groups and urban inequalities at both macro and local levels. While not inherently negative, segregation can lead to the formation of urban areas with distinct social compositions and unequal distribution of resources and services. These factors can shape the opportunity/constraint structure of individuals, perpetuating and transmitting social inequalities. Therefore, based on their social position, population groups can experience varying access to urban resources. Some benefit from a range of services like mobility, health, and education, while others face challenges in accessing resources and opportunities, with consequences in terms of exclusion and social cohesion. Building on these premises, this work aimed to delve into urban inequalities by combining residential segregation analysis with spatial accessibility analysis to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how and to what extent the social composition of urban areas intersects with differentiated access to urban resources. To achieve this goal, the study relied on quantitative and spatial methods of analysis applied to the Italian municipality of Naples