Depopulation determinants of small rural municipalities in the Valencia Region (Spain)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12090806
AutoresEnrique San Martín González (0000-0002-0429-4734, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia), Enrique San-Martín González, Federico Soler-Vaya (0000-0001-6176-3165, Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen110
Páginas103369-103369
Fecha de publicación2024-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaJournal of Rural Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0743-0167 • E-ISSN: 1873-1392
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jrurstud.2024.103369
OpenAlexW4401565150
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9
Referencias citadas28

The depopulation of rural areas is a global problem that is particularly serious in Europe and in large areas of Spain, such as the interior of the Valencia Region. Despite the consensus in the diagnosis of the problem, there is still a debate about the policies and measures to solve it. For this reason, in order to help policymakers, this work carries out an analysis of the determinants that have contributed to the population growth of small rural municipalities in the Valencia Region. The analysis includes variables that have not been used in previous research, such as cultural heritage, cycling and walking routes, organic farming or renewable energy. Among the variables that contribute to the fight against depopulation, in addition to basic public services (education and health), there are variables from the primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. There are therefore activities and resources to try to diversify the economic activity to revitalise small rural municipalities. • More than a half of Valencian small rural municipalities are losing population. • New variables tested as depopulation determinants. • Schools are the main driver of population growth in rural areas. • Primary, secondary and tertiary sector activities help to sustain rural populations. • Sectoral diversification of the economy could be the key to rural development

Economic geography · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Regional science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Valencia · Agricultural Economics and Policy · Migration, Aging, and Tourism Studies · Rural development and sustainability