Tracking attractive rural areas as destinations for the establishment of Greeks after 2000

Abstract

Migration is the only demographic phenomenon which directly interacts with time and space. In the modern history of Greece international migration held a distinct position, while within the country we observed an intense urbanization process and rural exodus, generating strong spatial population redistribution. During the 90s, Greece turned into “host” country. This new situation has largely contributed to a relative demographic revitalization of some rural areas. In parallel, if internal migratory flows in Greece continue, however they acquire new forms and directions where the largest cities are not systematically the privileged destination. The methodology adopted in the present study aims at delimiting the rural areas with significant or potential population growth and to some extent can be considered as “new attractiveness areas”. The present research is focused on internal migration of Greek population and gives emphasis on returning to rural areas. Therefore, the population under consideration is related to Greeks born in Greece who are residents in the country both in 2001 and 2011. The scale of the analysis refers to the administrative level of Kapodistrian municipal districts, which in relation to the new administrative division allows a more pertinent identification of rural areas concerned by the return to countryside.