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Escape to the Country: A Reaction-Driven Rural Renaissance on a Swedish Island Post COVID-19

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  • Hanna Elisabet Åberg

    (Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy)

  • Simona Tondelli

    (Department of Architecture, Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, 40100 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic could be driving more households to migrate out of cities and to the countryside, but this might result in an increased demand for access to green space which, in the long run, may cause a widening of social inequalities in rural areas. On the contrary, if planned for, it could provide an opportunity for repopulation and regeneration. This article explores the underlying causes and impacts of current rural in-migration, and further, it touches on how planning can balance development while supporting communities for a rural renaissance. By using a case study area in Sweden, it examines evidence of amenity-driven in-migration flows before and during the pandemic. The findings show an increased usage of part-time housing as a result of demand for space and nature; however, this was made possible through already well functioning infrastructures. Acknowledging that it is crucial to maintain and enhance natural capital, this study suggests that the supply of services and infrastructure is essential to achieve a rural renaissance beyond temporary tourism. As people are increasingly dividing their time between their urban permanent home and their rural second home, this may further suggest that there is a need to improve the connections between urban and rural areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Hanna Elisabet Åberg & Simona Tondelli, 2021. "Escape to the Country: A Reaction-Driven Rural Renaissance on a Swedish Island Post COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-16, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:22:p:12895-:d:684647
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. J. Javier Serrano & Félix Fajardo, 2023. "Impact of COVID-19 on the Territory and Demographic Processes: A View from Spanish Rural and Urban Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-27, May.
    2. Yaobin Wang & Ruitao Zhao & Ying Li & Rong Yao & Ruoxue Wu & Wenlin Li, 2023. "Spatial and Temporal Heterogeneity of Rural Habitat Level Evolution and Its Influencing Factors—A Case Study of Rural Villages in Nature a Reserve of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, March.
    3. Natalie Nitsche & Aiva Jasilioniene & Jessica Nisén & Peng Li & Maxi S. Kniffka & Jonas Schöley & Gunnar Andersson & Christos Bagavos & Ann Berrington & Ivan Čipin & Susana Clemente & Lars Dommermuth , 2022. "Pandemic babies? Fertility in the aftermath of the first COVID-19 wave across European regions," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2022-027, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.

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