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The access to broadband services as a strategy to retain population in the depopulated countryside in Spain

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  • Merino, Fernando
  • Prats, María a.
  • Prieto-Sánchez, Carlos-Javier

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyze at what extent the connectivity of small localities is a determinant of their demography. Specifically, we pay attention to three factors: the evolution of the population; the distance, measured both in kilometres and travel time, to the province capital, the usual city where the largest set of services is available; and finally, the coverage of different kinds of broadband services (from ADSL or 3.5 G to the fastest ones FTTH) in rural areas. An econometric model was estimated where the dependent variable captures the increase of inhabitants along 2017–2020 of the 5955 Spanish municipalities with a population between 101 and 10,000 inhabitants (73.3 % of all municipalities). The results point out to the following facts: digital connectivity of small localities is a determinant of their demography, whatever the technology used, but physical distance remains being a significant factor on the population growth (both if it is measured of physical distance or travelling time) to explain the population growth of each locality.

Suggested Citation

  • Merino, Fernando & Prats, María a. & Prieto-Sánchez, Carlos-Javier, 2024. "The access to broadband services as a strategy to retain population in the depopulated countryside in Spain," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120866, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:120866
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/120866/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patricia L. Mokhtarian, 2002. "Telecommunications and Travel: The Case for Complementarity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 6(2), pages 43-57, April.
    2. Abrardi, Laura & Cambini, Carlo, 2019. "Ultra-fast broadband investment and adoption: A survey," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(3), pages 183-198.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    internet connexions; broadband; sustainability; territorial cohesion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J10 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - General
    • R53 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock

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