The Opportunity for a Sustainable Social Economy in Vacant Spain: An Empirical Analysis in COVID-19 Confinement
The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for the revitalisation of empty Spain and the development of new sustainable business models in a healthier environment, taking the competitive advantages of digitalisation and the benefits of contact with nature. This study presents a positive analysis of...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Urban Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/1/8 |
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| Summary: | The COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity for the revitalisation of empty Spain and the development of new sustainable business models in a healthier environment, taking the competitive advantages of digitalisation and the benefits of contact with nature. This study presents a positive analysis of the situation after three months of confinement with the research objective of evaluating the potential for development a sustainable social economy in empty Spain based on the hypotheses presented. In order to demonstrate the six hypotheses put forward in the research, a review of the existing literature was conducted, socio-economic and environmental indicators from official sources were consulted, and descriptive statistics methods have been applied. Digitalisation, the social economy, the bio-economy, and the revitalisation of heritage seem to be the drivers for achieving the challenges proposed. By perceiving reality through a lens that values nature and creative intelligence, a new avenue of opportunities may be opened up, leading to an improvement in quality of life and well-being, and potentially retaining the rural population. Following this study, which assesses the opportunities, risks, and challenges and establishes a plan of measures, players, and resources for future implementation in vacant Spain, new lines of work will become available. |
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| ISSN: | 2413-8851 |