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ABSTRACT This paper explores whether the concept of counterurbanisation, expanded with an international dimension, offers a valuable framework for understanding recent migration flows from the Netherlands to Sweden. Using a geo-referenced database comprising demographic and socio-economic variables, the post-migration employment status, employment sector and settlement location of Dutch migrants in Central Sweden are analysed. In addition, results from observation, interviews and a survey during emigration fairs are employed to describe the motives for migration from the Netherlands to Central Sweden. We argue that counterurbanisation is not an exhausted research topic, when international political, economic and socio-cultural factors are added to the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Second homes are at the nexus of tourism and migration. Previous research has demonstrated that second homes are important domiciles after retirement. Nevertheless, few studies have addressed this issue specifically. Many households claim that they would use their second homes more often, and some even state that they would convert these homes into their new permanent homes. While this is a known phenomenon, its geographical outcome is rather unknown. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the conversion of second homes into primary residences. This is done with respect to timing and geographical patterns. A geo-referenced longitudinal population database allows for identifying converted properties and linking them to information of their owners' households. This facilitates a discussion regarding the impact of conversions on planning and service provision in host communities, too. The analysis refers to the time period from 1991 to 2005. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The attractiveness of second home areas is usually measured in absolute figures. Such an approach ignores that second home areas have different potentials to attract second home buyers, because of their relative location in relation to major population centres. Hence, absolute figures represent the total distribution of the population rather than the amenity of a location. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relative attractiveness, here expressed as relative acceptance (RA), of second home areas in Sweden, which accounts for the spatial context of the areas. The analysis is based on a comprehensive dataset containing geo-references for all second homes and second home owners in Sweden in 2001. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]