Socioeconomic Forces Research Articles

Decarbonizing the Food System with Microbes and Carbon-Neutral Feedstocks.

Harnessing CO2 and CO2-derived C1-C2 compounds for microbial food production can mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and boost sustainability within the food sector. These innovative technologies support carbon neutrality by generating nutrient-rich edible microbial biomass and biocompounds using autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes. However, qualifying microbial food viability and future impacts in the food sector remains challenging due to their diversity, technical complexity, socioeconomic forces, and incipient markets. This review provides an overview of microbial food systems and then delves into the technical interplay among feedstocks, microbes, carbon fixation platforms, bioreactor operations, and downstream processes. The review further explores developing markets for microbial food products, the industrial landscape, economic drivers, and emerging trends in next-generation food products. The analysis suggests a transformative shift in the food industry is underway, yet significant challenges persist, such as securing cost-effective feedstocks, improving downstream processing efficiency, and gaining consumer acceptance. These challenges require innovative solutions and collaborative efforts to ensure the future commercial success of microbial foods-doing so will create myriad opportunities to transform and decarbonize our food system.

Gendered Violence in Intimate Relationships in the Context of Law, Culture and Religion in Nigeria

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a serious human rights violation whose resilience against comprehensive laws calls for a reappraisal of the interplay of the key factors that influence its persistence. What is the link between the resilience of GBV and socio-economic forces such as religion, culture and tradition? This paper is inspired by the death of a popular Nigerian gospel singer, Mrs Osinachi Nwachukwu, on 8 April 2022. Although the real cause of her death was not confirmed through an official autopsy, there was widespread speculation that her death arose from intimate partner violence (IPV). It sparked a heated debate among Nigerians, especially the Christian community, on the issue of GBV, especially the role of religious authorities in combatting IPV. Her death also raised concerns about the institution of marriage, bridewealth, women's marginalisation, and the role of the law. Using a literature review and drawing from the best legislative and institutional practices from Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda, this paper highlights challenges in the legal framework and its implementation, as well as harmful norms and religious beliefs that prompt and perpetuate IPV in Nigeria.

Assessing the driving forces of landscape change in the perspective of Polish residents

Over past 20 years analysis of driving forces of landscape change have become a popular research topic, but there is still insufficient amount of research on this issue in the countries of Eastern Europe. This is all the more important as a number of factors have accelerated changes in the landscape in the countries that have joined the European Union in recent years. The results of the research presented in the article concern the identification of those forces that significantly influenced the shape of changes from the perspective of residents living in different types of municipalities from the Lower Silesia region. The research approach used was to identify the landscape transformations that took place in the 3 time intervals 2005–2010, 2010–2015, 2015–2020, and then to present them in the form of a questionnaire to the inhabitants of the 6 municipalities that lived in the study area during the study period, asking them to identify which of the indicated phenomena or processes contributed to the indicated landscape transformations. The driving forces most often indicated by residents of the analyzed municipalities can be categorised as political forces (40.66 %), socio-economic forces (20.74 %) and cultural forces (16.61 %). However, the results showed differences in the reported drivers of landscape change depending on the type of landscape in which the changes occurred. In urban landscapes, the proportion of cultural drivers increased significantly, in contrast to agricultural or forest landscapes where natural and political forces were more important.

Uneven and divergent spatial figurations: A five-pronged typology of urban and peri-urban formations in Romania

This paper introduces a five-pronged typology to conceptualize the variegated and dynamic spatial figurations of urban and peri-urban areas in Romania, addressing a gap in the current literature on planetary urbanization by elucidating the differentiation between and within peri-urban spaces. Through analyses incorporating principal components, cluster analyses, association and analysis of variance this study delineates the distinctive patterns of demographic, economic, and spatial transformations across Romania's urban landscape. The typology not only highlights the complexities of peri-urban development, but also provides a critical framework for examining the socio-economic forces shaping these areas. We show that peri-urban spaces exhibit considerable heterogeneity; their processes of formation, dynamics, relationships with core cities, and trajectories vary significantly and are contingent upon specific contexts. This is what we synthetically call uneven and divergent spatial figurations that peri-urban development produces. We enlarge the “spatial figuration” framework that springs from the Lefebvrian trialectic of spatial production to challenge the urban-rural dichotomies and highlight the inter-scalar dynamics of change in the discontinuous and historically rooted peri-urban areas. The text contributes to emergent scholarship in the field that has shifted focus from examining the emergence of peri-urban spaces to addressing the diverse typologies of these spatial formations and their internal variation.

Sustainable Development of Production–Living–Ecological Spaces: Insights from a 30-Year Remote Sensing Analysis

The rapid pace of urbanization and industrialization has reshaped land use patterns globally, particularly within the interconnected domains of ‘production, living, and ecological spaces’ (PLES). Understanding the spatiotemporal evolution of these spaces is crucial for guiding sustainable development. Although a number of previous studies have explored aspects of their dynamics and driving factors, further investigation is needed to fully understand their long-term spatiotemporal evolution and the broader influences of socio-economic and environmental forces. This study aims to fill that important gap by leveraging advanced remote sensing techniques to analyze PLES transformations over a 30-year period. Using Henan Province, China, as a testbed, this study applies high-resolution Landsat data, land use transition matrices, dynamic degree analysis, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and multiple linear regressions to uncover trends and underlying drivers. The results reveal a substantial reduction in production spaces by 3394.62 km² steady growth in living spaces by 4459.41 km² and complex, non-linear changes in ecological spaces, which decreased by 1067.43 km². Key driving forces, such as economic growth, urbanization, and fiscal policies are identified and discussed. These insights provide a robust framework for sustainable land use planning, with broader implications for rapidly urbanizing regions worldwide.

Narratives from Staff at an LGBTQIA+ Shelter: Applying Ecological Systems Theory to a Homelessness Intervention in Cape Town, South Africa

Internationally, LGBTQIA+ people are at increased risk of homelessness and housing instability. Literature on this topic emerging from the Global South has been less prominent. This article explores LGBTQIA+ homelessness in Cape Town, South Africa. Cape Town is a unique local context, given the post-apartheid political landscape and prevalent negative attitudes towards LGBTQIA+ people in South Africa. Grounded in the ecological systems theory, this article explores staff perspectives about emergency shelter interventions with the population of LGBTQIA+ people experiencing homelessness. An international team of scholars coordinated this research effort to interview staff at an LGBTQIA+ focused shelter in Cape Town. Interview data were analysed using narrative analysis strategies. Results show that the shelter seeks to provide a safe and structured environment for LGBTQIA+ people who may have experienced family rejection, educational or economic challenges and mental health concerns. Researchers recommend that there be a shift in focus to macro socio-economic forces when considering LGBTQIA+ homelessness. Researchers also discuss the need for more robust social work training for staff of shelters who serve this vulnerable and resilient population.

Recommendations from the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk Convening – “Renewal and Revolution: Recommitting the Legal Profession to Serve Children and Youth, their Families, and Communities”

AbstractYouth and families impacted by legal systems now resoundingly attest to the systems' lasting harm, echoed by interdisciplinary research. Lawyering thus requires a vastly renewed outlook, boldness, and honest inquiry about the limits of what the law and public systems can (and should) attempt as purported problem‐solving amidst broader socioeconomic forces and injustice. This report synthesizes recommendations from a groundswell of diverse, dedicated voices following an October 2023 convening hosted by the American Bar Association Commission on Youth at Risk, the ABA Center on Children and the Law, and Hofstra University's Maurice A. Deane School of Law. Entitled “Renewal and Revolution: Recommitting the Legal Profession to Serving Children and Youth, Their Families, and Communities,” the convening engaged various professionals—many with firsthand experience in foster and justice systems— and other advocates. Since the 2006 ABA Youth At Risk Initiative Planning Conference, the ABA Commission on Youth At Risk has elevated the representation and voice of youth through ethical practice standards, expanded access, and national initiatives. This report recounts findings of the 2023 convening's four working groups which met for two‐days of (often tense) discussions to chart a path for the legal profession, law, and policy for the next decade and beyond. Priorities include: transcending conceptions of youth “at risk” towards recognition of harms done, a strengths‐based lens, and lived experience leadership and expertise; cultivating next generation attorneys; prioritizing early family defense and diversion; divesting from systems and re‐investing directly with youth and families; and further eliminating racial disparities.

Saving behavior among immigrant and native youth

This study investigates the role of migration background in the saving behavior of youth, with a focus on immigrant generation, national origin, and the influence of cultural and socioeconomic factors. Drawing on a nationally representative dataset of over 28,000 secondary school students in the Netherlands, we employ binary logit models to analyze two dimensions of saving behavior: the likelihood of saving money and the propensity to use bank accounts for savings. Our findings reveal significant disparities in saving behavior among immigrant and non-immigrant youth. Migrant youth are less likely to save overall, and when they do, they exhibit a reduced inclination to use bank accounts for their savings. Furthermore, the study uncovers nuanced patterns within the immigrant youth population. First-generation immigrant youth display lower levels of saving and bank account usage compared to their second-generation counterparts, particularly to those with one foreign-born parent. Distinct national origin effects are observed, as Turkish and Moroccan youth exhibit reduced likelihoods of saving, particularly through bank accounts, compared to Surinamese and Dutch Antillean youth. The results also indicate that the disparities in saving behavior across migration background, immigrant generation, and national origin are partly explained by socioeconomic and cultural forces. Socio-economic status and parental education emerge as key determinants, with higher parental socio-economic resources and education levels positively associated with youth saving behavior and bank account usage. Additionally, religious affiliation, particularly among Muslim youth, contributes to variations in saving behavior due to the prohibition of interest-bearing transactions.

Artificial intelligence and socioeconomic forces: transforming the landscape of religion

This research examines the influences of artificial intelligence and socioeconomic factors on religious freedom across 20 countries from 2000 to 2022. Employing a detailed model that integrates both specific effects related to individual countries and annual changes, our study offers an extensive empirical analysis of how artificial intelligence relates to religious freedom. The results indicate a notable negative impact of artificial intelligence on religious freedom. Furthermore, the study sheds light on key factors that affect religious freedom, uncovering a positive correlation with elements such as economic growth, political stability, and education levels. However, it was also observed that increased digitalization correlates negatively with religious freedom. These conclusions are reinforced by findings from the system-generalized method of moment estimation, which strongly support our initial results. Consequently, this study establishes that the relationship between artificial intelligence and religious freedom is intricate and shaped by a variety of socioeconomic factors. Our findings emphasize the necessity for thoughtful consideration of the broader societal impacts of artificial intelligence, especially regarding essential human rights like religious freedom.

EMPLOYEE MOTIVATION & PERFORMANCE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN THE EMPLOYEES OF PHED, BIHAR & DWSS, PUNJAB

This study explores the intricacies of employee motivation and performance within two distinct government departments: The study was conducted among selected villages in Bihar with the participants coming from the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) in Bihar and the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation (DWSS) in Punjab. The research’s objective is to examine the extent to which various environmental, organisational, and socio-demographic variables impact organisational motivation and employee performance within these departments. People motivation is one of the key factors of organizational performance, having a close and direct effect on production, satisfaction, and effectiveness. The research work uses a comparative technique to assess motivational factors and performance measures in two organisations, PHED and DWSS. Using paper and online questionnaires, interviews and secondary data analysis, the research establishes and compares the motivational forces as job security, recognition, company’s career development prospects, work-life balance and job performance in the departments of the company. The results imply that there are critical distinctions in motivational factors in the two departments owing to region based socio-economic forces, organizational culture and management practices. For instance, whereas, employees in the PHED Bihar might be much concerned about job tenure and security because of development picture of the region, on the other hand, DWSS Punjab employees might be more concern with career mobility and status because of the progressive organizational culture of the state. Additional findings include the relationship between leadership behaviours, management of employee engagement, and availability of resources on performance measures. The comparative analysis provides useful information on how and why such motivational theory can increase employee performance across the organizations. This work advances the knowledge concerning the key factors that influence the motivational and performance outcomes of public sector employees, as well as offering suggestions for practical organisational reform to boost productivity and morale.

Work and life: the relative importance of job quality for general well-being, and implications for social surveys

Abstract We investigate the relative importance of variations in job quality in accounting for variations in general well-being among employed people in Europe, the USA, Australia and South Korea. We find that the importance of job quality is everywhere of a similar magnitude to that of health, while both are far more important than other conventional determinants, including education, gender, marital status, parental status, age or household income. Job quality accounts for somewhat more of well-being’s variation among men than among women. Within the majority of European countries, the R2 for the variation accounted for ranges between 14 and 19%. The paper’s findings, alongside rising policy interest, support the allocation of a greater priority for job quality in general socio-economic and labour force surveys than hitherto.

“There's an awful lot of rubbish around masquerading as Cultural Studies”: Rethinking Sport Studies After the Cultural Turn

This article addresses the (inter)disciplinary parameters and political possibilities of Sport Studies by providing an overview of the state of Sport Studies after the cultural turn. The cultural turn is defined as the influence of linguistic models on cultural analysis and the associated impact of poststructuralism and critical theory on the social sciences. I argue that the cultural turn, especially as developed within the academic field of Cultural Studies, resulted in the elevation of culture as central rather than epiphenomenal to our understandings of how society works. Drawing on the work and ideas of Stuart Hall, I warn against decontextualized forms of cultural analysis, that privilege discourse analysis and descriptive content analysis. Instead, an argument is made for more critical conjunctural analyses, broadly defined as the analysis of socio-economic forces that shape power relations within a given social field during a particular period of time. The article then maps six key forces reshaping the current conjuncture. Sport, I argue, is entangled in complex ways with these emerging and changing formations, and in some areas, sport is at the forefront of the cultural-ideological revolutions taking place. As a key site of meaning making, a powerful space where bonds of attachment are forged, a space of fantasy and play, and a place for identity construction and human creativity, I show how sport is now central to current struggles to remake the world system into a more humane, less toxic and more egalitarian space.

Elucidating the paradox of sustainable art consumption: an interdisciplinary analysis

This study scrutinizes the paradoxical relationship between the burgeoning demand for sustainable materials and the persisting environmental impact of the global art market. Its interdisciplinary inquiry, methodologically informed by a survey and interviews with art gallery managers, seeks to elucidate the driving forces behind this phenomenon, comprehend the contribution of sustainable art consumption within an interdisciplinary framework, and identify potential strategies to foster a genuinely sustainable art market. The interdisciplinary analysis unveils a combination of several influential factors perpetuating the paradox of sustainable art consumption, such as socioeconomic forces, artistic motives and values, and regulatory and policy shortcomings. Implications for art market structures and rules, as well as policy and regulations, are discussed. Further, the article looks into the limitations in implementing the proposed framework, predominantly concerning resource constraints, the art market’s diversity and complexity, and the delicate balance between artistic freedom and sustainability. Additionally, it addresses challenges such as enforcement and compliance, measuring and monitoring impact, collaboration and coordination, and adaptation to a perpetually evolving market. The article provides a comprehensive argument for the pressing need to reconcile the art market’s ecological footprint with the rising demand for sustainability, offering potential avenues for achieving a truly sustainable global art market.

Longevity, demographic characteristics, and socio-economic status are linked to triiodothyronine levels in the general population.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis is fundamental to human biology, exerting central control over energy expenditure and body temperature. However, the consequences of normal physiologic HPT-axis variation in populations without diagnosed thyroid disease are poorly understood. Using nationally representative data from the 2007 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we explore relationships with demographic characteristics, longevity, and socio-economic factors. We find much larger variation across age in free T3 than other HPT-axis hormones. T3 and T4 have opposite relationships to mortality: free T3 is inversely related and free T4 is positively related to the likelihood of death. Free T3 and household income are negatively related, particularly at lower incomes. Finally, free T3 among older adults is associated with labor both in terms of unemployment and hours worked. Physiologic TSH/T4 explain only 1.7% of T3 variation, and neither are appreciably correlated to socio-economic outcomes. Taken together, our data suggest an unappreciated complexity of the HPT-axis signaling cascade broadly such that TSH and T4 may not be accurate surrogates of free T3. Furthermore, we find that subclinical variation in the HPT-axis effector hormone T3 is an important and overlooked factor linking socio-economic forces, human biology, and aging.

Mobility, Change, and A Shared History

It was only in 1727 that the first Turkish‑Muslim printing house was established by Ibrahim Müteferrika with the support of Sultan Ahmed III. It came into existence in Istanbul at the beginning of the eighteenth century during a peaceful interlude known as the Tulip Era – a brief period characterized by increasing consumerism, religious tolerance, interest in philosophy and openness to the West. Many reasons have been put forward for this late adoption: Sultanic firmans, opposition from scribes, lack of a market for printed texts, and the difficulty in printing Arabic script. What forms of mobility in print material and technology existed before 1727 in the Ottoman Empire, and how did they interact with the creation of a Turkish‑Muslim printing press during the Tulip Era? It was Rabbi Jacob ben Asher’s incunable of 1493 – "Four Rows" – that marked the inauguration of printing of any type in the Ottoman Empire. This text will be briefly analyzed, along with the ensuing centuries‑long Hebrew and Ladino print traditions, and finally their continuation through the Tulip Era. This article will frame the historical development of Jewish print culture in Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire from the fifteenth century to the eighteenth century while situating it within the international marketplace. The exchanges between the intercontinental Jewish print culture, the first Turkish‑Muslim printing house, and European intellectuals emphasize interconnectedness as well as the reimagination of the Tulip Era not as the initial thrust of Ottoman "modernization" but rather the amalgamation of previous technological and socioeconomic forces. Using Ottoman Jewish printing as a comprehensive example, "modernization" in the Ottoman Empire is shown to have occurred over many centuries, with its achievement the result of a blending of different coexisting cultures and trends.

The Mahimā of Ājali Āi and the Persecuted Māyāmārā Śatra: Guru-Mā as Holy Patroness and Divine Mother

Every year around 200,000 Māyāmārā Vaiṣṇavas congregate in a small village in Mājulī, Assam, India, for the annual śevā, or worship service, to Ājali Āi, a 16th-century female figure. She was the mother of Sri Sri Aniruddhadeva, the founder of Māyāmārā Vaiṣṇavism, a religious sect originating in medieval Assam that experienced royal persecution and ethnic cleansing. Among contemporary Māyāmārā Vaiṣṇavas, veneration of Ājali Āi as the mother of the founding Guru has become popular, which is somewhat puzzling since historical information about her life is scarce. Nevertheless, as Guru-Mā, Ājali Āi today has become a symbol of holiness in Māyāmārā society with community members attributing to her mahimā, translated as a divine agency, mysterious glory, or supremacy. Guru-riṇ and Mātri-ṛin, categories that are a part of the Vaiṣṇava and the larger Hindu canon, can generally explain the holiness accorded to the mother of the Guru. In the case of the Māyāmārā Vaiṣṇavas, however, they are not sufficient to explain the power in the form of mahimā that the community ascribes to her in the present day to the degree of attributing to her the power to grant wishes. This exploratory chapter argues for a systems approach to understand the phenomenon of the mahimā of Ājali Āi in contemporary Māyāmārā society. The chapter finds that socio-economic and political forces interacted with extant legends around Ājali Āi and ideas around Āi as Devi and mother in complex ways to create the community’s contemporary understanding of Ājali Āi as a holy and loving maternal figure with mahimā—one who keeps a watchful and nurturing eye over the community and grants the wishes of ardent devotees.

Suburban fertility and the role of local contexts in a Mediterranean country: A spatial exercise

Assuming spatial fertility as contextual to the development stage of a given region, this study formulates an interpretative framework integrating small-scale fertility variations with metropolitan cycles and economic downturns. Using spatial econometrics, spatial trends in a gross fertility rate were investigated along a sequence of economic expansions and recessions, distinguishing urban, suburban, and rural settlements in 51 Greek prefectures. Suburban fertility overpassed urban fertility, being in turn higher than rural fertility in several prefectures. Urban fertility was higher with economic expansion and declined with recession. The reverse pattern was observed for suburban fertility – increasing with crisis and assuming a greater spatial heterogeneity. By documenting a differential response of fertility to economic downturns and metropolitan cycles, our work suggests that spatial fertility divides are temporary outcomes of a specific ensemble of socioeconomic forces underlying regional growth.

ACCESS AND USAGE OF CARE AMONG OLDER MIGRANTS: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract Equitable access to care is critical to support healthy aging in underserved groups. Recent global demographic trends such as the rapid aging of the population in developing and developed countries, the growing proportion of migrants from the Global South to the Global North over the past 50 years, and increasing health inequalities between and within countries reflect a continued need to address the underlying pathways and causal mechanisms that determine access to and usage of care among migrants. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on the micro-, meso-, and macro-level determinants that intersect and shape access to and usage of care services and programs among older migrants. It makes the case that foreign-born older adults are more likely to experience challenges accessing services and programs due to cultural and language barriers and factors related to their socio-economic status, race/ethnicity, gender, and time since immigration. Next, the paper provides a deeper exploration of the interface of structure and agency and an interrogation of how access and usage of care among older migrants may be conditioned, not simply by individual socio-economic circumstances and life course events, but also by macro-level factors like the distribution of power relationships and neoliberal public policies. The paper concludes with a call for sustained efforts to acquire a more profound understanding of individual-level, socio-economic and socio-political forces that influence access and usage of care. Finally, it provides directions for future research with the ultimate goal of supporting healthy aging among older migrants.

Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Alaba Sub-Watersheds of Central Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia

The magnitude of soil erosion rates has been accelerating in the Central Rift Valley Area of Ethiopia due to land use and land cover change (LULCC). This study aimed to analyze the trends and changes in land use and land cover dynamics and to analyze the impact of LULC change on soil erosion over the Alaba Sub-Watershed, Central Rift Valley Area of Ethiopia. This study would help to plan and use appropriate land use planning, soil, and water conservation practices, thereby reducing soil erosion in the study area. The soil loss rates were estimated using an empirical prediction model of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) outlined in the ArcGIS environment. During the study period between 1987 and 2018, the rate of change in cultivated land and bare land was raised by 9.09% and 1.08%, respectively. On the contrary, vegetation cover and grasslands had dropped by –2.03%, and -1.42% respectively. From trends of LULC changes, cultivated land revealed an increasing trend increasing from 181.28 hectares to 351.23 hectares for the period 1987 to 2018, respectively. On the other hand, vegetation and grasslands showed a declining trend from -271.92,-22.66 hectares to -305.91, -124.63 hectares, respectively. The findings of the study generally elucidate that the LULCC has a detrimental impact on soil erosion. The estimated total annual actual soil loss in the study landscape was 25707.77 tons in 1987, 29310.71 tons in 2000, and 31769.32 tons in 2018. It was also found that the mean annual soil loss rate of the study catchment was 22.69t/ha/yr., 25.87t/ha/yr. and 28.04t/ha/yr. in 1987, 2000, and 2018 respectively. About 35% and 42% of the Sub-watershed experienced high to very severe soil erosion in 1987 and 2018, respectively. The results indicate that the estimated erosion rate for about 39 % of the sub-basin area exceeds the maximum tolerable soil erosion threshold and this shows that the erosion risk condition is deteriorating in the study landscape. The top three priority levels delineated for urgent SWC measures represent those areas within the large increase in erosion risk levels, with an area of 188 hectares and accounting for 17 % of the sub-watershed area. Therefore, further detailed investigations based on data from primary and secondary sources would be important in identifying driving socioeconomic forces and consequences of LULCCs and suggesting possible alternative options to establish sustainable resource management practices in the study area.

Unraveling population trends in Italy (1921–2021) with spatial econometrics

Testing density-dependence and path-dependence in long-term population dynamics under differentiated local contexts contributes to delineate the changing role of socioeconomic forces at the base of regional disparities. Despite a millenary settlement history, such issue has been rarely investigated in Europe, and especially in highly divided countries such as those in the Mediterranean region. Using econometric modeling to manage spatial heterogeneity, our study verifies the role of selected drivers of population growth at ten times between 1921 and 2021 in more than 8000 Italian municipalities verifying density-dependent and path-dependent dynamics. Results of global and quantile (spatial) regressions highlight a differential impact of density and (lagged) population growth on demographic dynamics along the urban cycle in Italy. Being weakly significant in the inter-war period (1921–1951), econometric models totalized a high goodness-of-fit in correspondence with compact urbanization (1951–1981). Model’s fit declined in the following decades (1981–2021) reflecting suburbanization and counter-urbanization. Density-dependence and path-dependence were found significant and, respectively, positive or negative, with compact urbanization, and much less intense with suburbanization and counter-urbanization. A spatial econometric investigation of density-dependent and path-dependent mechanisms of population dynamics provided an original explanation of metropolitan cycles, delineating the evolution of socioeconomic (local) systems along the urban-rural gradient.