Abstract
This article focuses on generational differences in spatial mobility. Assuming that the ability to cope with the social transformations related to growing mobility varies significantly across generations, we use mobile positioning data collected in Estonia during 2014 providing four main indicators, namely, the number of locations visited and the distances between visited locations, within Estonia and abroad. The results indicate that spatial mobility declines linearly with age; however, a high degree of heterogeneity exists within age groups. Whereas the spatial mobility of the most active members of the younger generation takes place mostly within Estonia, among the most active older generation focus their activity beyond its borders. The study reveals “delayed mobility” patterns among the most active groups of the older generation and a new “immobility culture” among the younger generation in terms of cross‐border activities in a transition society.
Highlights
One of the key processes in contemporary societies is the increase in spatial mobility, involving growth in the mobility of individuals, goods, knowledge, and information
We aim to respond to the following research questions: (a) What kind of age differences can be observed in spatial mobility within Estonia and abroad? (b) What are the differences in spatial mobility between the most and least spatially active individuals?
Previous studies of age differences in spatial mobility have focused mainly on the sociochronological margins, without studying how spatial mobility varies across all generational groups (Frändberg & Vilhelmson, 2011; Grotz, 2003; Langevang & Gough, 2009; Smith et al, 1979)
Summary
One of the key processes in contemporary societies is the increase in spatial mobility, involving growth in the mobility of individuals, goods, knowledge, and information. Such changes have been generalised as the “mobility turn” in the literature (e.g., Cresswell, 2011; Faist, 2013; Urry, 2000) and referred to in discussions across multiple disciplines, including geography, social sciences, and migration studies. Many large‐scale changes in the behaviour of both societies and individuals are directly or indirectly related to rapid developments in information and communication technologies (ICT), In the present article, we contribute to the discussion of changes in spatial mobilities by studying empirically the generational differences in spatial mobility, as a means of studying social change. Some authors have analysed changing (im)mobility practices in the context of social transformations (Meier & Frank, 2016), but there have been few attempts to analyse the ability of individuals to keep up with spatial transformations and the growing mobility among various generational groups
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