Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective

This paper argues for the need to adopt a dynamic approach to demography and migration in the peripheral (often island or remote rural) regions of the North Atlantic. It cautions against the simplified and false dichotomy between gentrification and depopulation, calling rather for a more fluid appre...

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Main Author: Godfrey Baldacchino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Politecnico di Torino 2008-01-01
Series:European Journal of Spatial Development
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.polito.it/index.php/EJSD/article/view/182
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author Godfrey Baldacchino
author_facet Godfrey Baldacchino
author_sort Godfrey Baldacchino
collection DOAJ
description This paper argues for the need to adopt a dynamic approach to demography and migration in the peripheral (often island or remote rural) regions of the North Atlantic. It cautions against the simplified and false dichotomy between gentrification and depopulation, calling rather for a more fluid appreciation of the manner in which people exploit opportunities for mobility as they connect with, and from, peripheral places. In so doing, the paper also identifies the limitations of both data-collection methodologies for demographic purposes, as well as public policy generally, wedded as these are to static categories of time and location. It also reviews qualitative material from Prince Edward Island, a small island province of Canada, which highlights why immigrants may privilege their mobility to ‘settling down’: some of the reasons given speak to the difficulty of ‘fitting into’ a tight, albeit friendly, island community. Finally, the paper suggests policies that may facilitate the better integration of geographically remote communities into the wider knowledge economy.
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spelling doaj.art-60cc5fca4866403eb8b1f564ba26373d2023-04-14T09:46:55ZengPolitecnico di TorinoEuropean Journal of Spatial Development1650-95442008-01-016111910.5281/zenodo.5137463182Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic PerspectiveGodfrey Baldacchino0University of Prince Edward Island, CanadaThis paper argues for the need to adopt a dynamic approach to demography and migration in the peripheral (often island or remote rural) regions of the North Atlantic. It cautions against the simplified and false dichotomy between gentrification and depopulation, calling rather for a more fluid appreciation of the manner in which people exploit opportunities for mobility as they connect with, and from, peripheral places. In so doing, the paper also identifies the limitations of both data-collection methodologies for demographic purposes, as well as public policy generally, wedded as these are to static categories of time and location. It also reviews qualitative material from Prince Edward Island, a small island province of Canada, which highlights why immigrants may privilege their mobility to ‘settling down’: some of the reasons given speak to the difficulty of ‘fitting into’ a tight, albeit friendly, island community. Finally, the paper suggests policies that may facilitate the better integration of geographically remote communities into the wider knowledge economy.https://journals.polito.it/index.php/EJSD/article/view/182migrationnorth atlantic
spellingShingle Godfrey Baldacchino
Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
European Journal of Spatial Development
migration
north atlantic
title Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
title_full Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
title_fullStr Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
title_short Population Dynamics from Peripheral Regions: A North Atlantic Perspective
title_sort population dynamics from peripheral regions a north atlantic perspective
topic migration
north atlantic
url https://journals.polito.it/index.php/EJSD/article/view/182
work_keys_str_mv AT godfreybaldacchino populationdynamicsfromperipheralregionsanorthatlanticperspective