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G01-O1 Urban, Regional, Territorial and Local Resilience

Tracks
Ordinary Session
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
11:00 - 13:00
B4

Details

Chair: Prof. Vinko Mustra


Speaker

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Ms Soyoon Kim
Ph.D. Student
Seoul National University

Understanding Risk Perception for Safer Living Environments: An Analysis of Natural and Man-Made Disasters

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Soyoon Kim (p), Brian Hong Sok Kim

Discussant for this paper

Anwesha Sarkar

Abstract

A safe living environment is a crucial contributor to an individual's quality of life. The increasing prevalence of uncontrollable risk factors, such as climate change, air pollution, emerging infectious diseases, and serious crimes, has underscored the essential role of governments in ensuring societal safety. To develop effective risk mitigation strategies, it is imperative to understand which threats local residents perceive as most significant. This study aims to analyze the factors influencing natural and man-made disasters. Additionally, it seeks to examine the safety systems required to enhance quality of life. Utilizing seven waves of data from the Social Survey conducted biennially by Statistics Korea between 2010 and 2022, we employed a Hierarchical Age-Period-Cohort (HAPC) model to assess perceptions of risk from natural disasters and structural or facility-related hazards(man-made disaster). The results reveal a U-shaped age effect on risk perception, indicating that both younger and older age groups perceive higher levels of risk compared to middle-aged individuals. Significant differences in risk sensitivity were also observed based on gender, education level, and income. Notably, disparities between urban and non-urban residents were identified: non-urban residents perceived natural disaster risks as more severe, while urban residents were more concerned about man-made disasters. These findings highlight the importance of developing region-specific safety systems and tailored interventions to address local vulnerabilities. On the other hand, an examination of the period effect by income level revealed that higher-income groups are more influenced by events occurring at specific periods in shaping their risk perception. This result indicates that period effects were present among high-income groups for both types of disasters. This can be attributed to differences in risk perception across income levels, which are linked to disparities in access to information. By understanding the demographic and regional factors that influence risk perception, policymakers can enhance overall societal safety and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
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Ms Anwesha Sarkar
Ph.D. Student
Indian Institute of Technology Patna

Impact of Neighbourhoods on Maternal Health: A Study of Eastern India

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Anwesha Sarkar (p), Papia Raj

Discussant for this paper

Elisavet Thoidou

Abstract

Neighbourhood is an important determinant of health, especially for women. Existing literature suggests that neighbourhood characteristics can mitigate or exacerbate any health disorder among women. However, very few studies have focused on analysing the impact of neighbourhoods on women's maternal health. The research gap is particularly pronounced in developing countries like India, where neighbourhood factors influencing maternal health remain underexplored. The present study attempts to analyse the influence of urban neighbourhoods on women's maternal health in Eastern India. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS round 5 from 2019 to 2021), India's Eastern region ranks low on various maternal health indicators. Kolkata, the largest urban agglomeration of Eastern India, was selected as the study area to gain a representative understanding of the situation. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from both secondary and primary sources. NFHS-5 served as the secondary data source, while primary fieldwork was completed through surveys and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Neighbourhoods’ characteristics were examined based on their physical and social environments. The physical environment encompassed footpaths, garbage disposal, walkability, streetlights, pollution, sanitation, drinking water, traffic congestion, crowding, distance to healthcare facilities, the prevalence of street-food outlets, and green space. The neighbourhood’s social environment incorporated neighbourhood-level socio-economic status, cohesion, connection, trust, social capital, stress, crime, and violence. Maternal health indicators related to antenatal and postnatal care were also calculated. Antenatal care was assessed based on gestational check-ups. Similarly, postnatal care was examined through components of institutional deliveries with skilled assistance. A logistic regression analysis explored the relationship between maternal health indicators and parameters of the neighbourhood environment. Findings suggest that a favourable physical environment in the neighbourhood, characterised by high walkability, low pollution levels, adequate sanitary facilities, and proximity to healthcare facilities, is associated with positive maternal health outcomes. Neighbourhood social environment characteristics such as low socioeconomic status and lack of social cohesion among neighbours induced stress among women, resulting in complications during gestation. Crime and violence were also negatively related to maternal health status. In conclusion, the study emphasises the need for policy interventions that improve neighbourhood conditions. These improvements are essential for enhancing maternal health among women in Eastern India.
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Prof. Elisavet Thoidou
Full Professor
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Spatial Planning and Development

Fostering synergies between climate adaptation strategies and spatial planning: Challenges and some evidence from Mediterranean metropolitan areas.

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Elisavet Thoidou (p), Dimitri Foutakis

Discussant for this paper

Reveka Gkerats

Abstract

In an era of rapid transformations and uncertainties, cities, regions and metropolitan areas place their expectations for prevention of risks and territorial resilience to the role of planning, especially planning of strategic character. New strategic spatial planning has been re-established since 1990 in many metropolitan areas of the Global North, to guide territorial development with a view to promoting sustainability and competitiveness. While strategic spatial plans have been embedded in the planning systems of many countries, since 2000 new challenges have arisen for metropolitan areas that request new content and synergies between various types of planning. Above all the request for resilience has complemented that for sustainability, thus posing challenges to all types of spatial planning and territorial interventions as well. At the same time, metropolitan areas adopt climate adaptation strategies in seeking to enhance resilience to the impact of climate change and be better prepared for rising risks. These strategies are usually part of a wide system of climate adaptation strategies extending from supranational to national, regional, metropolitan and city/local levels, with characteristics that depend on each country’s specificity. However, in most cases climate adaptation strategies do not have their own means of implementation, which raises the need for mainstreaming adaptation measures to pre-existing policies. On the other hand, established policies need to update their concept and content with the aim of promoting territorial resilience. Overall, there is a need for fostering synergies between strategic spatial planning and climate adaptation strategies, as is evident above all in cases of catastrophic events. It is suggested that this should be attained at the following interconnected levels: the governance of planning, the concept and vision of plans, and the content of planning interventions. This paper draws evidence from two Mediterranean cities in Greece and Spain, while seeking to identify ways of fostering synergies between types of plans towards territorial resilience.

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Ms Reveka Gkerats
Ph.D. Student
University Of Patras

Exploring job mismatch for regional resilience in Greece

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Reveka Gkerats (p), Maria Tsampra

Discussant for this paper

Vinko Mustra

Abstract

Human capital is considered among the primary mechanisms through which adaptation and resilience emanate in the regional labor markets after a shock. Therefore job mismatch that results in the underutilization of human capital and inefficient allocation of resources could be a factor that determine regional resilience. Labor markets in Greece are diachronically characterized by extensive mismatch with the country typically having the largest share of overqualified graduates in Europe and underperforming in the worldwide rankings regarding the alignment of skills within the labor market, the intensity of skill use in workplaces, and the use of high-performance workplace practices. Using a methodology developed by OECD we explore the relationship between skills supply and skills demand in the 13 regional labor markets of Greece for the period 2011-2022. We proxy skills supply by the percentage of working-age population with tertiary education (ISCED levels 5-8) sourced from secondary regional data. Demand for skills is approximated by the percentage of employment in high-skilled occupations as denoted by the three first digit categories of ISCO-08 in combination with the Gross Valued Added per worker for each region. According to the nature of the relationship the 13 Greek regional labor markets are categorized as those experiencing imbalances either skills shortages or skills surpluses and those experiencing equilibrium of either high or low skills. Furthermore drawing on primary research data retrieved through fieldwork with the use of a structured questionnaire addressing graduates with tertiary education attainment we explore quality aspects of job mismatch covering a cross-regional, cross-sectoral and cross-occupational range of labour employment. Our findings highlight the importance for high-skills utilization in the workplace, otherwise the regional labor market becomes less resilient.
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Prof. Vinko Mustra
Full Professor
Faculty Of Economics,Business and Tourism University Of Split

Falling into the regional development trap: The role of regional economic resilience in EU

Author(s) - Presenters are indicated with (p)

Vinko Mustra (p), Blanka Šimundić (p), Zvonomir Kuliš

Discussant for this paper

Soyoon Kim

Abstract

The concept of the regional development trap has recently gained recognition in the literature, identifying regions that struggle to sustain economic dynamism relative to their national and European peers (Iammarino et al., 2020; Diemer et al., 2022; Rodríguez-Pose et al., 2024). A regional development trap occurs when a region experiences persistent stagnation in income, productivity, and employment, struggle to sustain economic dynamism relative to their national and European peers (Iammarino et al., 2020; Diemer et al., 2022). While prior researchers have identified the structural and institutional determinants of development traps (Iammarino et al., 2020; Diemer et al., 2022), the relationship between these traps and a region’s capacity for resilience during turbulent periods remains underexplored.
Understanding the dynamics of regional development traps is crucial, as their persistence can lead to widening territorial disparities, economic discontent, and long-term stagnation (Iammarino et al., 2020; Diemer et al., 2022; Rodríguez-Pose et al., 2024). Without effective interventions, development-trapped regions risk falling further behind, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities and fueling dissatisfaction with national and EU-level policies (Rodríguez-Pose et al., 2024).
This paper addresses this gap by investigating how regional economic resilience influences the likelihood of falling into or escaping a development trap. A region’s ability to withstand, adapt to, and recover from economic shocks has significant implications for its long-term development trajectory. This issue has become even more pressing as we are experiencing periods of more frequent and intense shocks—ranging from financial crises and trade disruptions to pandemics and geopolitical conflicts—placing additional strain on regional economies. In this context, resilience plays a preventive role by helping regions avoid stagnation and a corrective role by facilitating recovery for those already trapped.
Our empirical analysis of NUTS 2 regions in the EU finds that higher levels of economic resilience represent a significant positive determinant for escaping a regional development trap. These findings highlight the need for policymakers to adopt forward-looking strategies that enhance regional resilience rather than relying solely on remedial policies. Strengthening resilience can serve as a crucial mechanism to counteract the growing divide between dynamic superregions and left-behind areas in Europe, helping to prevent long-term economic stagnation and the rise of territorial inequalities.

Co-Presenter

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Blanka Šimundić
Associate Professor
University Of Split, Faculty of Economics, Business and Tourism

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