How Service Exclusion Affects Rural Depopulation. An Approach Based on Structural Equation Modelling

This paper explores the relationship between service exclusion and the depopulation phenomenon. To achieve this, we apply structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the lack of development of primary services (healthcare, education, social services, commerce, restaurants and bars, as well as In...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Alonso Logroño, María Pilar, Gargallo Valero, Pilar, Lample Gracia, Luis Javier, López Escolano, Carlos, Miguel, Jesús A., Salvador Figueras, Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:10459.1/468216
Acceso en línea:https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.70005
https://hdl.handle.net/10459.1/468216
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ageing
Cluster analysis
Rural depopulation
SEM
Service exclusion
Descripción
Sumario:This paper explores the relationship between service exclusion and the depopulation phenomenon. To achieve this, we apply structural equation modelling (SEM) to evaluate the lack of development of primary services (healthcare, education, social services, commerce, restaurants and bars, as well as Internet access) at the municipal level, considering their relationship with population loss and ageing—two of the most defining aspects of depopulation. Additionally, using cluster analysis techniques, we classify municipalities based on their degree of service exclusion, identifying distinct typologies and highlighting the most critical service deficits within each group. The study focuses on the Spanish region of Aragon, a striking example of severe rural population loss and pronounced ageing within the European context. Our findings reveal significant heterogeneity in both depopulation patterns and service exclusion. This heterogeneity highlights the need to propose specific rural policy measures adapted to the peculiarities of each territory to contribute to more resilient rural communities.