Counterurbanisation and new social class in rural Spain: The environmental and rural dimension revisited

Abstract

There is much debate about the contribution of counterurbanisation processes to the restructuring of rural areas. This article focuses on the counterurbanisation of the so‐called new service class or self‐employed professionals in Spain in three provinces. Sources of demographic and taxation data are analysed in an attempt to study spatial trends and to carry out a quantitative analysis based on detailed interviews to establish the causes of the migration from a rural perspective.