Abstract
In a context of aging, low fertility, and progressive slowdown of both internal population mobility and international migration at working age, residential mobility at older ages was regarded as an emerging phenomenon in Mediterranean Europe, a region with increasingly attractive retirement places. The present work discusses the socioeconomic processes (and the environmental impacts) associated with an increasing flow of retirees, which decide to settle from ‘Northern’ countries to Southern Europe, concentrating in coastal districts and in rural countryside. Understanding lifestyle preferences and territorial patterns of residential mobility at older ages allows a refined analysis of short- and medium-term impacts of International Retirement Migration (IRM) on population dynamics in economically growing and declining regions. A refined analysis reveals that destinations of IRM are progressively enlarging from strictly coastal places to a broader set of locations in the rural countryside. Mobility choices among retirees may jeopardize the role of spatial planning, which is increasingly asked to provide specific services for an international, elder population, e.g., stimulating re-use of abandoned rural buildings. Taken as an effective option for rural development, an improved planning and management of local districts attracting and hosting intense flows of residential mobility at older ages is urgent in the present socioeconomic context. A convenient set of policies and a refined taxation system may contribute to reconcile demographic shrinkage with local competitiveness and social cohesion.
Highlights
Assuming the contribution of movements of individuals, technology, and information to economic growth, broad-range mobility consolidated regional divides in urban and rural areas [1].Characterization of socioeconomic and territorial factors shaping propensity and timing of migration may distinguish long-distance from short-distance moves [2], evidencing the attractive role ofLand 2020, 9, 410; doi:10.3390/land9110410 www.mdpi.com/journal/landLand 2020, 9, 410 creative-cultural cities, coastal districts and traditional rural landscapes [3]
To what has happened in Portugal, the impact of such favorable fiscal regime on population dynamics and resilience of local communities, needs specific investigation based on reliable statistical data [69]
Delineating short-term demographic scenarios for the Northern Mediterranean region is a hard task, it seems clear how International Retirement Migration (IRM) will remain an important part of long-haul residential mobility across Europe, being less sensitive to economic recessions and other external shocks than more traditional migration flows at working ages
Summary
Assuming the contribution of (increasing) movements of individuals, technology, and information to economic growth, broad-range mobility consolidated regional divides in urban and rural areas [1]. Because of favorable weather conditions over the whole year [22,28,29], Portugal, Spain and, partly, Italy, Greece, Croatia, Malta and Cyprus, include attractive locations for people in retirement ages from Western, Northern, and Central European countries [12,20,24,30,31,32]. Northern Europe compared with Spain, and probably Southern France, Tuscany region in Central Italy is still considered one of the most selected locations in Mediterranean Europe This was likely due to a rich cultural heritage, historical urban centers, and flourishing rural areas, which are home to a large number of wealthy and well-educated retirees from e.g., United Kingdom [52]. Increasing disparities among wealthy and disadvantaged locations resulted in polarized social structures, reflecting specific
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