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Towards Sustainable Mobility? The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Romanian Mobile Citizens in Spain

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Marcu

    (Instituto de Economía, Geografía y Demografía, Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28037 Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

Using the case study of Romanians in Spain, this article highlights how the COVID-19 crisis presents both challenges and opportunities when it comes to human mobility and sustainability. Drawing on in-depth interviews with mobile people during the period of lockdown and circulation restrictions, and in accordance with the objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the paper advances and contributes to the relevance of sustainability and its impact on people’s mobility in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. I argue that even in the midst of the crisis, sustainable ways may be found to promote and protect human mobility. The paper raises the way sustainability acts as a driver, gains relevance and influence, and contributes to the creation of new models of resilient mobility in times of crisis. The conclusions defend the respect for the SDGs regarding human mobility and emphasise the role of people on the move as sustainable actors learning to overcome distance and the barriers to their mobility during the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Marcu, 2021. "Towards Sustainable Mobility? The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Romanian Mobile Citizens in Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-18, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:7:p:4023-:d:530214
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    8. Silvia Marcu, 2019. "The limits to mobility: Precarious work experiences among young Eastern Europeans in Spain," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 51(4), pages 913-930, June.
    9. Adam Przybylowski & Sandra Stelmak & Michal Suchanek, 2021. "Mobility Behaviour in View of the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic—Public Transport Users in Gdansk Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Silvia Marcu, 2024. "New Trends of Thought in Response to Post-Pandemic Work Precariousness Among Second-Generation Romanian Citizens in Spain," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Silvia Marcu, 2025. "‘It’s Time For Us To Fly’: Proactive Resilience to Overcome Precariousness – Post-Pandemic Opportunities for Mobility Among Spanish Postgraduates," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, August.

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