Population and railways in Portugal, 1801-1930

Portuguese historiography has mostly adopted a pessimistic view regarding the contribution of the railways to the development of country. Yet, railway access helped to increase population concentration and economic development, favoring migration into towns, the growth of pre-existing urban centers, and the emergence of new centers. But railways tended to be more beneficial to regions that were already prosperous and to aggravate the conditions unfavorable to development in areas with greater structural weaknesses

The Evolution of Population Distribution on the Iberian Peninsula: A Transnational Approach (1877–2001)

Surpassing the national perspective usually adopted, the authors confirmed the existence of a pattern of population distribution common to the whole Iberian Peninsula in the long run. This pattern is clearly associated with geographical factors. These variables seem to have more weight in explaining changes between 1877/78 and 1940 than in the period from 1940 to 2001. The observation of the cross-border region has shown that proximity to the frontier has not generated any distinct pattern of population density on either side of the boundary line. The spatial coherence of the observed phenomena throughout the Peninsula and of its evolution, independent of the border between states, reinforces the importance of geographic factors in their explanation. At the same time, this verification opens up new issues related to the effect of national political and economic policies

The evolution of population distribution on the Iberian Peninsula: A transnational approach (1877–2001)

Surpassing the national perspective usually adopted, the authors confirmed the existence of a pattern of population distri bution common to the whole Iberian Peninsula in the long run. This pattern is clearly associated with geographical factors. These variables seem to have more weight in explaining changes between 1877/78 and 1940 than in the period from 1940 to 2001. The obser vation of the cross-border region has shown that proximity to the frontier has not generated any distinct pattern of population density on either side of the boundary line. The spatial coherence of the observed phenomena throughout the Peninsula and of its evolution, independent of the border between states, reinforces the importance of geographic factors in their explanation. At the same time, this verification opens up new issues related to the effect of national political and economic policies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of railroad accessibility on the population of Portugal’s Inland North Region (1878-1930). The Tua and the Beira Baixa lines

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Caminhos de ferro, população e desigualdades territoriais em Portugal, 1801-1930

A historiografia sobre os caminhos de ferro em Portugal tem analisado o seu impacto no país como um todo, dando pouca atenção à sua influência na dinâmica populacional. Este artigo defende que os caminhos de ferro estimularam o crescimento da população nas áreas servidas por esta infraestrutura, contribuíram para o desenvolvimento urbano e incentivaram as migrações internas. Porém, os seus efeitos foram desiguais, pois a ferrovia beneficiou as zonas já prósperas (Norte Atlântico), tendo uma influência negativa em regiões com maiores debilidades estruturais (Norte Interior). Além disso, não foi capaz de atrair uma significativa população migrante.L’historiographie a analysé l’impact des chemins de fer portugais sur l’ensemble du pays mais elle a prêté peu d’attention à leur influence sur les dynamiques démographiques. Cet article soutient que les chemins de fer ont stimulé la croissance de la population dans les zones desservies par cette infrastructure, contribuant au développement urbain et encourageant les migrations internes. Les effets n’étaient cependant pas les mêmes: les chemins de fer ont été bénéfiques aux régions déjà prospères (Nord Atlantique) mais ont eu une influence négative pour les régions ayant de grandes faiblesses structurelles (Nord Intérieur). Par ailleurs, ils n’ont pas attiré de manière significative de population migrante.Historiography on railways in Portugal has mainly analysed their impact on the country as a whole and has paid little attention to their influence on population dynamics. This article argues that railways stimulated population growth in the areas served by this infrastructure that they contributed to urban development and encouraged internal migration. Their effects, however, were not the same in all parts of the country: railways benefited the already prosperous regions (Atlantic North) and had a negative influence in areas with greater structural weaknesses (Inland North). Beyond that it was unable to attract a significant migrant population

Caminhos de ferro, população e desigualdades territoriais em Portugal, 1801-1930

Historiography on railways in Portugal has mainly analysed their impact on the country as a whole and has paid little attention to their influence on population dynamics. This article argues that railways stimulated population growth in the areas served by this infrastructure that they contributed to urban development and encouraged internal migration. Their effects, however, were not the same in all parts of the country: railways benefited the already prosperous regions (Atlantic North) and had a negative influence in areas with greater structural weaknesses (Inland North). Beyond that it was unable to attract a significant migrant population

Spatial inequalities in infant survival at an early stage of the longevity revolution: A pan-European view across 5000+ regions and localities in 1910

BACKGROUND: Spatial inequalities in human development are of great concern to international organisations and national governments. Demographic indicators like the infant mortality rate are important measures for determining these inequalities. Using demographic indicators over long time periods at relatively high levels of geographical detail, we can examine the long-term continuities and changes in spatial inequalities. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the initial outcomes of a larger project that aims to analyse spatial variation in infant survival across Europe over the last 100 years. In this paper, we focus on spatial disparities in infant survival in 1910. At that time, the longevity revolution was still at an early stage. We look at general spatial variation patterns within and across countries, and discuss some of the challenges related to the comparativeness of the data. METHODS: We link official infant mortality data from more than 5,000 European regions and localities for the period around 1910 to a European historical GIS of administrative boundaries. The data are analysed using descriptive spatial analysis techniques. RESULTS: In 1910, a number of countries in northern and western Europe led the longevity revolution in Europe, with the area of low infant mortality also extending into the northwestern parts of the German Empire. Other areas with low infant mortality levels included the Belgian region of Wallonia, most parts of Switzerland, as well as central and south-western France. In eastern and southern Europe, we find significant variation within and across countries, which might stem in part from data quality problems