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Purpose: In the post-pandemic era urban ecosystem planning has become critically important. Given the emphasis on relevant issues concerning the complex interactions between human civilizations and natural systems within urban environments in the new normal, this article aims to enrich the field of knowledge management developing a cross-cultural analysis for clarifying the role of knowledge in planning and urban ecosystems. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is conceptual in nature. Based on a theoretical foundation built by a critical literature review and data from the China Statistical Yearbook and China's National Bureau of Statistics, this paper introduces some emerging real-impact topics regarding the connections between humanistic knowledge and urban planning. A comparative analysis between the capital city of Chang'an in the Tang dynasty of China and the capital city of Athens in Ancient Greek was used for explaining the influence of knowledge on successful urban planning. Findings: The understanding the role of cross-cultural differences in knowledge management and practices for urban ecosystems offer the opportunities for rethinking consolidated approach to the interaction among social, economic, and environmental dimensions in urban settings. Originality/value: This paper implies a new inter-disciplinary research field of great interest for the real impact KM community by illuminating how knowledge management is central in urban planning and across cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Urban Studies (Sage Publications, Ltd.) is the property of Sage Publications, Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper examines the critical role of Mega Infrastructure Projects in sustainable urban and peripheral development by presenting a Sustainable Infrastructure Serum Analysis supported by primary field research. In the Athens Metro case study, we examined the project's impact on sustainable development by analysing the opinions of the project's users. As a result, the Athens Metro serves as a case study to help us better understand sustainable infrastructure as a framework for green growth from the standpoint of society. The three pillars of sustainable development are inextricably linked. This study focuses on the social comprehension and acceptance of a Mega Infrastructure Project effects. We attempt to demonstrate the interdependence of the three pillars of sustainable development through public opinion responses to our research by developing a statistical model fed by public responses to a prototype questionnaire that we developed to support our research objectives. The study's findings highlighted the project's social acceptability and necessity by establishing a direct positive correlation between sustainability, society, the economy, and the environment from the standpoint of society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece was never internationally renowned for its defence industry; in fact, its state-owned industries were usually a source of headaches rather than income for Athens. The Debt Crisis (2008-18) compounded the chronic ills of the Greek defence ecosystem which appeared to decline irreversibly. And yet, in recent years they rebounded and reached new heights. How can this surprising turnaround be explained? And what does it indicate for the future of the Greek defence industry? This paper aspires to examine how the Greek defence ecosystem (state- and private-owned) evolved from a stage of stagnation and decline into a phase of stabilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The so-called refugee crisis of 2015–2017 has accelerated the diversification of frontline actors involved in the field of migration management. Although this shift has been widely acknowledged, its implications remain unclear. Focusing on the capital cities of Athens and Berlin, this paper examines the views and experiences of individual frontline actors from different organizational sectors. The findings suggest that the intensified inter-organizational collaboration at the street-level leads to the emergence of wider communities of practice, composed of diverse "front-liners". Although the front-liners develop a shared community membership, they simultaneously experience internal conflicts due to enduring sectoral divides and competing institutional logics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Social & Cultural Geography is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this paper, we examine how bordered reality is being imposed and resisted in the context of where we are placed right now, 'Greece'. Drawing on ethnographic research and discourse analysis, conducted in Lesvos, Samos, and Athens (from March to September 2016), we examine how resistance to a bordered reality took place, as islands in the north Aegean, as well as Greek and European territories, were being remapped according to the logic of the hotspot. We approach this process methodologically from the situated angle of the embodiment of resistance in the concrete experiences of people (including the researchers ourselves), whose narratives reveal the distracted spatial coordinates of the 'hotspot regime', which becomes a traveling control device. Rather than approaching the hotspots on the five Greek border islands as geographically fixed entities we introduce the concept of the mobile hotspot to show how the logic of the hotspot suffuses the uneven geographies of a bordered reality. We use the ferry as an illustrative tool with which to critically explore the density, tensions, and conflict-ridden nature of movements within, around, and against the hotspots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper intervenes in recent geographical debates about territory, sovereignty, hegemony, and urban marginality by introducing the concept of a "spatial contract." The concept emerged from a longitudinal ethnographic engagement with the Exarcheia neighbourhood in Athens, Greece. The neighbourhood's unique concentration of riots during Greece's post‐dictatorial era is theorised thus as manifesting a kind of spatial contract in which local conflict and contestation of state sovereignty endures amid the wider regional and national reproduction of state hegemony. Exarcheia's reputation and sustenance as a place of protest becomes explainable in this way as being made possible by an unstated but enduring state–society contract that the local contestation can be continued so long as it is also spatially contained. The paper first identifies key advances in geographical understandings of the relationship between territory and sovereignty that support such a theorisation. This growing body of scholarship is still largely unable to account for temporal and spatial exceptions in the sovereign control of territory. The paper proceeds to explain how a two‐year ethnographic residence in Exarcheia (2008–2010), and repeat field visits since, have made manifest the emergence of a distinct spatial contract during Greece's immediate post‐dictatorial era (post‐1974), and again since 2008 during the country's three‐fold crisis (economic, political, and of migrant reception). Far from being disconnected from these wider social transformations, the spatial contract actually reflects them, including now as it comes undone during a new and arguably revanchist period of hegemony through coercion. In this way, the changing conflictual relationships in Exarcheia can be interpreted anew as part of a hybrid yet hegemonic sovereign control over territory at large. This hybrid hegemonic mix has critical implications for our understanding of marginality, sovereignty, and territorial control more generally, including our ability to conceptualise agency, resistance, and citizenship within shifting forms of hegemony. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current economic and social environment, companies are called upon to maintain their smooth operation, as well as to adopt practices that ensure their viability. One of the central pillars of sustainable development of listed companies in the alternative market, today, is the adoption of a strong corporate governance system. In the Greek financial sector, there are limited references to the companies that trade on the Alternative Market of the Athens Stock Exchange, as well as to the companies' approach to the Hellenic Corporate Governance Code. The aim of this work is to cover a part of the incomplete literature that exists in the scientific community for the companies on the alternative market of ATHEX, because the provisions of Hellenic Corporate Governance Code are considered crucial for the business strategy and for the creation of corporate value. The purpose of this paper is primarily to deepen the understanding on the new corporate governance code of ATHEX as well as on the application of the code practices in the selected sample of listed companies in the alternative market of the Athens Stock Exchange. From a theoretical perspective, extensive reference is made to the practices and legal framework of the corporate governance code in Greece. For the analysis and description of the data regarding corporate governance in the alternative market of ATHEX, and specifically, the adoption or not, of an effective corporate governance system. Information was collected from the financial reports of the sample companies for the period 2008 - 2021. The present study shows that listed companies in the alternative market are trying to adopt a framework of principles in line with the respective companies trading in the ATHEX main market. However, compared to the companies trading in the main market of ATHEX, there are huge differences in the degree of compliance for companies in the alternative market. Therefore, significant improvements should be made as the limited adoption of the corporate governance code is still very characteristic for the firms of the alternative market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to explore internal audit effectiveness through its contribution to corporate governance. Namely, the authors attempt to investigate the impact of internal audit professionalization on internal audit's contribution to corporate governance. Design/methodology/approach: Using a research framework informed by institutional theory, the authors predict that internal audit's contribution to corporate governance is associated with factors related to internal audit professionalization. To investigate the arguments, the authors combine data from a survey of 49 listed companies in the Athens Stock Exchange with publicly available information from annual reports. Findings: Empirical results indicate that internal audit professionalization affects internal audit effectiveness, as internal audit's contribution to corporate governance is improved for organizations where internal audit function complies with internal auditing standards and internal auditors hold professional certifications. The findings also suggest that internal audit's contribution to corporate governance is shaped by some company-specific characteristics, namely, CEO duality and audit committee quality. Practical implications: The results have implications for internal auditors who wish to increase the efficiency of their work, corporate governance mechanisms such as the board of directors and the audit committee, which can use the findings of this study to better respond to their responsibilities concerning internal audit and regulators who can also benefit to strengthen areas with substantial impact on internal audit's contribution to corporate governance. Originality/value: This paper contributes to the academic discussion on the role of internal audit in corporate governance and complements the work of other researchers in the field of internal audit professionalization. This study tries to fill a gap in the literature on the effect of internal audit professionalization elements on internal audit's contribution to corporate governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Statistics show that the new Italian emigration presents a plurality of directions: alongside the resumption of flows in the direction of the more traditional destinations, there are now migratory currents in the most diverse directions, including areas that are weak or lagging behind Italy. This novelty opens new interesting questions for the sociology of migration. This contribution highlights the necessity to face the study of "mobility" through interpretative approaches capable of grasping the pluralistic material and immaterial "spaces" designed by the new migratory trajectories. Therefore, we explore the South-South direction, which has remained at the margins of research and debate, trying to add a new piece to the increasingly complex picture of the Italian presence abroad. In the first part of the paper we will focus on some theoretical and demographic aspects considered relevant for the study of the new Italian emigration, with the aim of bringing out the complexity of the phenomenon. In the second part, after a brief methodological note, the results of a qualitative research carried out on the new Italian emigration to Athens1 will be presented in order to grasp its specific aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greece represents a unique context in which to explore the imagination-(im)mobility nexus: both a transit country and final destination for refugees. This article explores the imagination of refugee victims of torture in Athens as they weave together images of the past, present and future to confer meaning to their current situation and imagine new possible futures. In the context of a growing interest in emotions and temporalities linked to migration, the aim of this paper is thus to explore the complex interplay between the imagination of migrants and the trauma from the theoretical standpoint of sociocultural psychology. The paradoxes are multiple: (i) Migration is inherently imaginative, in the sense that the actualisation of migration begins with individuals imagining their destination; (ii) however, trauma related to forced migration experiences in particular may impede imagination. To further add to the complexity: it may be imagination itself which acts as an essential component to healing from trauma. The article explores forced migrants' mobility choices and individual migration trajectories to provide insight into how the emotionality of subjective experiences, as well as the sociocultural context, are fundamentally involved in people's plans to migrate and the development of their ever-changing imagination of a better future elsewhere. The results similarly illustrate imagination as being significantly shaped by the collective imaginings of entire communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studia Ethnologica Croatica is the property of Studia Ethnologica Croatica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The scope of this paper is to investigate the Greek 'path' to water privatization and its possible interconnections with the ongoing restructuring of the water sector on an EU and a global level. The paper starts with a contemporary, spatially-sensitive analysis of the expanding role of water multinationals, by focusing on water supply operators of the southern EU. Afterwards, it highlights the peculiarities of the 'Greek path' to private sector participation by studying the two most important Greek water companies, in the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki respectively. As found, these companies have partially, though successfully, been transformed according to the rules of the 'market-environmentalist' paradigm. The state drives the privatization effort, while at the same time, insufficiently regulates the activity of both companies. Based on the Greek case, the paper discusses whether the analytical tools offered by a critical approach, the 'accumulation-by-dispossession' thesis, can better interpret changes in water companies of the 'advanced-South'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the Athens Olympic Games and the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). It aims to test: the effect of the Athens 2004 Olympics on the general index of the ASE; the impact of the Olympic Games 2004 to the sponsors' prices traded on the ASE (based on three National sponsors and one International sponsor); and the effect of the Greek Olympic Champions (winners' effect) on the course of the ASE. Design methodology approach -- This paper captures financial time series characteristics by employing an AR(1)-GARCH(1,1) model with generalized error distribution (GED). The paper uses daily closing prices for the General ASE index and four Grand Sponsors listed in the ASE (Coca-Cola, Alpha Bank, OTE, and Cosmote) over the period 19 January 1996 to 20 December 2005. Findings -- The results show no effect on the general ASE index, but a positive effect on the OTE (Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation) index. Also, the results show a positive effect of Greek Medallists on the ASE index and two National sponsors, Alpha Bank and OTE. Research limitations implications -- Further research should investigate the impact of other mega sporting events (Mundial, European Championships) on the course of international stock markets using high-frequency datasets and models. Practical implications -- The findings are strongly recommended to financial managers and investors dealing with Greek stock indices. Originality value -- The contribution of this paper is to examine the above hypotheses on the relationship between the Athens Olympic Games and the ASE using a large sample data, and a Generalised Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model with GED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper's aim it to analyze added value that the theses e-submission system (tool) gave to the NTUA IR service. Design/methodology/approach - The paper describes the e-submission tool, its procedures and evaluates its use. Findings - The tool improved the IR service, which can be certified by the continuing evaluation process. This process produced the following main results: the automated batch importing feature should be integrated into the e-submission system; IR service tutorials should be given to the secretariats, faculty and students; and in-house service marketing should be conducted. Research limitations/implications - The present study provides a starting-point for further research in DL open source software. Originality/value - The paper shows that the tool helped NTUA users in submitting their e-theses, and the IR staff in organizing efficiently the service workflow and the data integration into the DSpace system. The process weaknesses rectifications will enhanse the service and allow its broadness to all NTUA departments. This tool implementation may start a debate to the DSpace community in using proxies between DSpace platform and the end user, as an alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Antipode is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revue d'Économie Régionale & urbaine is the property of Librairie Armand Colin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The expansion of urban ecosystems and climate change, both outcomes of massive lifestyle changes, contribute to a series of side effects such as environmental deterioration, spread of diseases, increased greenhouse gas emissions and introduction of invasive species. In the case of the Athens metropolitan area, an invasive mosquito species—the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus)–has spread widely in the last decade. This spread is favoured within urban environments and is also affected by changing climatic trends. The Asian tiger mosquito is accompanied by risks of mosquito-borne diseases, greater nuisance levels, and increased expenses incurring for its confrontation. The main aims of this paper are (i) to estimate the various costs associated with their control of this invasive species, as well as its health and nuisance impacts, (ii) to evaluate the level of citizens’ well-being from averting these impacts and (iii) to record citizens’ and experts’ perceptions regarding alternative control measures. Evidence shows that experts tend to place a high value on mosquito control when associated with serious health risks, while citizens are more sensitive and concerned about the environmental impacts of control methods. The synthesis of results produced by the current study could act as a preliminary guide for the estimation of societal welfare from the confrontation of similar problems in the context of a complex ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Greater Athens Area (GAA), situated in the southern part of the European continent (in Greece), has a Mediterranean climate characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. As a result of increased sunshine and high temperatures, exceedances in ozone concentrations are often recorded during the hot period. In the present study, the monthly as well as daily variations of O3 concentrations at thirteen stations in the GAA were investigated for the period 1987–2019. Moreover, the impact of O3 on the people's health in Greece was examined by using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study with the socio-economic conditions of the country. Ozone concentrations were found to be particularly high during the summer months, especially in suburban stations. Values ranged from 65 μg/m3 to 90 μg/m3 during the night, in contrast to urban areas and remain high for several hours. Comparing estimates from GBD, it was found that exposure to ozone can impair respiratory function, leading to death or susceptibility to respiratory diseases that reduce quality of life, especially for people over 55 years of age. Finally, since 2009, when the economic crisis began in Greece, an upward trend was observed for deaths and disability adjusted life years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution is one of the most important problems in big cities, resulting in adverse health effects. The aim of the present study was to characterize the personal exposure to indoor and outdoor pollution in the Greater Athens Area in Greece by taking measurements during a journey from suburban to mixed industrial–urban areas, encompassing walking, waiting, bus travel, and metro travel at various depths. For this reason, low-cost (LC) sensors were used, and the inhaled dose of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in different age groups of passengers was calculated. Specific bus routes and the Athens metro network were monitored throughout different hours of the day. Then, the average particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure for a metro passenger was calculated and evaluated. By considering the ventilation rate of a passenger, an estimation of the total PM2.5 inhaled dose for males and females as well as for different age groups was made. The results showed that the highest PM2.5 concentrations were observed inside the wagons with significant increases during rush hours or after rush hours. Furthermore, there should be a concern regarding older individuals using the subway network in Athens during rush hours and in general for sensitive groups (people with asthma, respiratory and cardiovascular problems, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent treatment of accommodation and arrival infrastructures for asylum seekers and refugees has fuelled international research on refugee reception policies in urban environments and on the consequences of related initiatives of the European Union and international organizations such as the UNHCR. Using Athens as a case study, this article provides empirical evidence to revive the theoretical treatment of the importance of arrival and accommodation infrastructures in urban areas in transition. We collected and compiled data from four sources: the 2011 population census, the 2018 ESTIA accommodation program and the UNHCR Site Management Support (SMS) Reports of Temporary Accommodation Sites and Reception and Identification Centres (RICs), and a primary survey of services for asylum seekers and refugees. After the geocoding of data, we calculate indices for key dimensions of the segregation of accommodated asylum seekers and foreign nationals. We discuss the findings, seeking to highlight how the location and the composition of accommodation infrastructures has been influenced by a wider process of urban change and adaptations to global forces, leading not only to the transformation of inner-city zones but also suburban and peri-urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2004 Olympic Games showcased Greece on a global stage, with Athens and its hinterland benefiting from massive infrastructure projects. Stringent attempts were made to develop culture, tourism and agriculture, but many urban and rural areas experienced de-industrialisation, not unlike that found in Western Europe. The rural/urban divide within Greece is particularly acute as the Greek islands and farming communities benefited more from Euro-funds than some of their semi-urbanised counterparts. The cases examined in this paper (Kastoria's beaver industry, Lavrion's mining, and textiles and fruit in Naoussa) suffered the loss of markets, poor investment and a shrinking employment base. All three localities had (limited) national policy interventions that ultimately failed, whereas Athens, where the 2004 Olympics were hosted, had massive investment. This paper is framed within global, EU and local policy contexts, to examine specific areas in Greece, and shows that despite numerous EU-driven partnerships for culture, tourism and agriculture across the mainland and Hellenic islands, clientelism, especially within political parties, remains prevalent at all governance levels. The success or otherwise of regeneration efforts was significantly affected by the ways in which elite actors were involved. In summary, the cases illustrate uneven development across Greece by highlighting the role of national and local elites in shaping growth or decline; the significance of political parties and clientelism; different types of partnerships; and levels of intervention and non-intervention. The dynamic interplay of a constellation of factors reveals how regeneration and economic development are played out in specific localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses two internationally mediated events to begin an enquiry into the character of contemporary political discourse, particularly those utterances that might be regarded as "acts of governance". The two events are the appearance of Scimitar armoured vehicles at Heathrow Airport in February 2003 (described by the BBC as "a public relations disaster", 14 March 2003), and the installation of US Patriot missiles around Athens in July 2004. The perspective taken in this study is that such occurrences represent armed demonstrations, a type of dramatised response produced by states that, although presented as measures designed to counter a "global" terrorist threat, may actually represent a calculated reaction to internal political dissent or other forms of domestic disorder. So, for example, the mobilisation of the Household Cavalry's armoured units took place four days before the United Kingdom's largest peace demonstration (called on 15 February 2003 to protest against the threat of a US-led attack on Iraq), while a series of minor explosions in the Athenian suburb of Kallithea on 4 May 2004 (G. Alexander, Independent, 5 August 2004) provided an important point of reference for those who argued for increased security during the Athens Olympics. The contention of this paper is that displays of military power in the United Kingdom and Greece were made in the name of security and were thus presented within the wider discursive context of the "war on terror", depending for their political impact upon the attempt to create symbolic resonance through media forms. Such displays represented not only the determination of two sovereign states, but also the intentions of powerful external actors, most particularly NATO and the US Government, which provided the missiles to Greece on the basis of "invitation" (Agence France-Presse, 10 May 2004). This study argues that these acts constituted an intervention in the globalised representation of terrorism, imposing temporarily "militarised" zones within the cities concerned. It also contends that they represent the creation of an uncomfortable tension between the pursuit of state and human security. Parallel examples of reference to "threats" are used to reinforce the paper's perspective, including the use of "globalisation" as an important device in the delivery of the economic strand of the "neo-liberal" agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides some new insights into the dual function of expressive speech acts discussed in pragmatic theory as either expressions of genuine emotions or conventionalised acts of courtesy. Drawing on the framework of interpersonal pragmatics, it analyses signs displayed on the doors of closed businesses in Athens and London during the first lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. These closure signs are characterised by a heavy use of relational features, including four expressive speech acts, namely greetings, apologies, thanks and wishes, which form the focus of the analysis. The relational work performed by these speech acts reflects the social changes brought about by the pandemic as well as the business owners' attempts to retain their customers. The expressive speech acts featured on the signs are evaluated against the norms set out by the genre of closure signs. The comparative angle of the study, on the other hand, links the discussion to norms related to the display of emotions and to the use of conventionalised formulae in the two countries under study, thus revealing culture-specific perspectives on the dual function of expressive speech acts. • Covid-19 signage displayed during the first lockdown contains numerous expressive speech acts performing relational work. • The functions of greetings, apologies, thanks and wishes on these signs are compared to their use on standard closure signs. • Expressive speech acts are more frequent and more effusive on signs found in the UK than on signs found in Greece. • The use of expressive speech acts as either expressions of emotions or formulaic acts of courtesy is culture-specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through an in-depth ethnographic exploration of the experiences of three unaccompanied, undocumented boys recently arrived and living on the streets in Athens, this research sheds light on the ways in which placemaking and displacement are inextricably linked. Engaging with the question of 'to what extent is placemaking present in the lived realities of recently arrived minors?' the article exemplifies the ways in which people, even in the toughest circumstances, can eventually begin to connect to new locales. Yet, simultaneously, it also highlights the stark difficulty and absences of place connections that displaced populations experience in migration. Placemaking and the role of place, although fundamental in displacement experiences, is not necessarily tied into the priorities and planning of governments and aid organizations. Taking it into consideration for future displaced populations is of great importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on ethnographic research with children in Athens, the authors examine sensual, performative and embodied aspects of children's photographic representations of a monument that is central in the Greek national, cultural and historical discourse, the Acropolis. Moving away from the hermeneutics of cultural domination, the focus of this article is on how the pictures depicted the monument and how they were used by the children. Assuming an analytical framework which incorporates aspects of sensual experience in the analysis of the photography, the authors discuss how the children's pictures of the Acropolis not only make visual records of the monument, and thus are not simply visual evidence of the centrality of the mainstream Greek national and historical discourse, but also how they entail the children's embodied relation to it, and what this relation might tell us about childhood expressions of heritage and belonging, and by extension about politics in childhood. The analytical focus on embodied aspects of children's photography illuminates complexities of cultural representation and their gestural, discursive and political significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social dynamics and economic cycles have driven population growth in Europe toward heterogeneous and hardly predictable spatial patterns. To assess the role of economic expansion and recession, our study identifies contextual factors of population growth and decline at the prefectural scale in Greece, a peripheral economy in Europe, estimating the differential impact of economic scale, agglomeration, accessibility, and amenities since the early 2000s. With economic expansion (2002–2009), population growth was largely dependent on agglomeration forces in both high and medium-density prefectures. The spatial model observed during recession (2010–2017) has instead reflected the inherent decline of agglomeration economies—with population increasing in accessible, rural districts with (natural and cultural) amenities. In more recent years, population growth in low-density coastal areas definitely suggests how demographic trends have been decoupled from the geography of income and wealth, reducing the divide in central and peripheral locations. The dominance of Athens and Thessaloniki in the Greek urban hierarchy progressively lowered, leading to a settlement model based on population growth in 'intermediate towns' and attractive/accessible rural locations. Such dynamics delineate a development path grounded on the spatial distribution of amenities, suggesting the existence of a 'reverse density dividend' that requires a specific investigation in advanced economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowing people are willing to protect wildlife when they feel connected with nature, we used owls as a case study to review owl symbolism in Greek history (2900 BC - 2000 AD). For five millennia, Greek civilization thrived and used owls as a dominant symbol in major cultural expressions. Consequently, a broad spectrum of social beliefs evolved towards owls. Until 1500 BC, they were mainly used as decorative attributes. During the Mycenaean era, though, owls began to be worshipped as eerie creatures in funeral rituals, inducing fear and respect. When Greek civilization peaked during the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods, an important shift is noticed in social perceptions. Owls are transformed into major symbols of wisdom, power, justice and divinity, connected to the goddess Athena and the city of Athens. Their significance faded in the subsequent Roman period and was absent throughout the Byzantine era, for 1500 years. When owls reappeared after 1800 AD in cultural aspects of modern Greece, society again considered them fearsome creatures. We finalize our historical review with a recent survey in Greece, capturing up-to-date trends. Our survey indicates that today: (i) owls are mostly considered beneficial and deserving of protection, but part of the population still perceives owls as bad omens, powerful and scary; (ii) elementary concepts of raptors' importance in ecosystems are still unknown to many; (iii) a small but impactful percentage still deliberately kill house-nesting owls, outlining the need to educate and provide nest-boxes as a relocation solution. By performing a thorough review of historical perceptions toward owls, important insights are offered on how to positively connect people with their wildlife and cultural heritage. We claim that people who understand how nature was related to their country in the past are inspired and more inclined to protect it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an ethnographic account of jazz music in Athens. The small scene under scrutiny is mainly populated by professional session instrumentalists of the Greek popular music scene who perform jazz as a side activity for their own pleasure. In the process, they construct a conceptual dichotomy between 'work' and 'play'. Drawing on the author's extended involvement in this scene, and focusing on private interviews with musicians, this article unveils the discourses of cosmopolitanism invoked through local jazz music-making. The ethnographic material presented aims to illustrate how even a small subculture can serve as a terrain for contesting cosmopolitan imaginaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difficulty in forecasting concentration trends with a reasonable error is still an open problem. In this paper, an effort has been made to this purpose. Artificial Neural Networks are used in order to forecast the maximum daily value of the European Regional Pollution Index as well as the number of consecutive hours, during the day, with at least one of the pollutants above a threshold concentration, 24 to 72 h ahead. The prediction concerns seven different places within the Greater Athens Area, Greece. The meteorological and air pollution data used in this study have been recorded by the network of the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning, and Public Works over a 5-year period, 2001–2005. The hourly values of air pressure and global solar irradiance for the same period have been recorded by the National Observatory of Athens. The results are in a very good agreement with the real-monitored data at a statistical significance level of p < 0.01. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The paper aims to define the mission, characteristics, objectives and evaluation processes concerning a specific training seminar entitled 'Business administration for public sector executives". Furthermore, the research intends to underline the evaluation criteria, set by trainees and training officers as necessary in order to maximize the seminar's overall impact on all those involved. Design/methodology/approach - The seminar was organized by the University of Athens, Greece, in order to contribute to the continuing education of public sector executives in the field of business administration. The educational methodology was based on adult education principles and the evaluation included the preparation, development, and delivery phases. The seminar's effectiveness was assessed based on predetermined criteria and parameters using methods such as questionnaires, comments, observation and team discussions. Finding - Through this process the seminar's strengths and weaknesses were revealed by making use of quantitative analysis methodological tools, such as statistics and econometric prototypes. The trainees' overall response to the seminar was "measured" and the results proved the high-calibre structure and content of the seminar sessions. The trainees stated that the seminar offered key essential knowledge and aided in skill development; furthermore, they expressed their willingness to attend further lifelong-learning seminars. Practical implications - The criteria set forth by trainees and training officers alike could pave the way for a new approach to lifelong (earning/training seminar design, implementation, and evaluation in the short-term future. Originality/value - The paper highlights the assessment criteria that offer meaningful insight into the participants 'perceived level of seminar-related satisfaction and can potentially be utilised for the design of future seminars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in information and communications technologies (ICTs) have strategic implications for a wide range of industries. Tourism and hospitality have been dramatically changed by the ICTs and the Internet and have gradually emerged as the leading industry in online expenditure. The Internet revolutionized traditional distribution models, enabled new entries, propelled both disintermediation and reintermediation and altered the sources of competitive advantage. This paper explores the strategic implications of ICTs and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of Internet distribution for small and medium-sized hospitality enterprises (SMEs). Primary research in Athens' hotels demonstrates the effects of the Internet and ICTs for secondary markets, where there is lower penetration and ICT adoption. Interviews and questionnaires identified a number of strategies in order to optimize distribution. The analysis illustrates the strategic role of ICTs and the Internet for hospitality organizations and small and medium-sized organizations in general. Most hotels employ a distribution mix that determines the level and employment of the Internet. The paper demonstrates that only organizations that use ICTs strategically will be able to develop their electronic distribution and achieve competitive advantages in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses empirical research on Palestinians in diaspora in Athens, Greece to add to debates on the nature of diasporic/transnational homeland-orientated politics in relation to identity. It highlights that such politics may be more limited for those who are non-citizens, despite the fact that they may be involved in diasporic political spaces that are informal in nature. It contributes to such debates by examining feelings of empowerment, inclusion and political change within such informal diasporic political spaces. Using the examples of demonstrations and the Parikia (or community house), the paper argues that informal political space can be both empowering and positive as well as disillusioning and negative for Palestinians in diaspora. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study examines whether an association exists between parental unemployment and health-related quality of life and mental health for adolescents aged 15–18 in Athens, Greece. The gathered dataset covers the same upper high schools in two periods, 2011–2013 and 2017–2019. The study finds that parental unemployment bears an association with decreased health-related quality of life and increased adverse mental health symptoms for adolescents. Moreover, the 2011–2013 period, a period of increased parental unemployment, saw a decrease in health-related quality of life and increased adverse mental health symptoms for adolescents. In addition, parental unemployment proved more detrimental to adolescents' health-related quality of life and mental health in 2011–2013 than in 2017–2019. The present research ranks among the first studies to examine whether parental unemployment could be associated with worse health-related quality of life and mental health for adolescents during periods of increased parental unemployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning games for instruction constitute a progressively important, mutually universal challenge for academics, researchers, and software engineers worldwide. Embracing no definite rules for encouraging negotiation, civics, and sustainability game-based learning and agency decisions, this study investigates negotiation/conflict and civics/sustainability-related attributes, as examined through the use of a learning game in a college environment. The author elaborates on the negotiation/conflict and civics/sustainability-related knowledge, attitudes, and skills of 60 Greek non-public college post-graduate students, explored post-gaming, and compared with classroom instruction as part of a negotiation/conflict management module in business psychology sessions in 2019/2020. The findings indicate the integrative negotiation/conflict resolution management and positive civics/sustainable development-associated attitudes of learners post-gaming when compared with lecture instruction. Cooperation, civic action, seeking knowledge about political/societal issues, and gains in problem-solving skills predicted civic responsibility attributes post-gameplay. Non-working status significantly affected the "argument"/verbal fight negotiation/conflict management perceptions of students with non-voting in elections status post-gaming, while working significantly influenced "walk away"/neutral negotiation/conflict resolution attitudes in participants with non-voting in elections status after gameplay. Non-voting in elections attributes significantly impinged on "argument"/verbal fight negotiation/conflict management attitudes for Athens municipality students after gaming. The learning game-based negotiation/conflict management- and civic/sustainability spectrum-related positive effects are reviewed alongside academic and management outcomes, and directions for future research are presented in light of global learning game negotiation/conflict resolution and civics/sustainability-related teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moving toward a land-use approach that focuses on settlement structure, the present study introduces an indicator of compactness based on the evolution over time of the number of detached buildings in total stock at local scale. Assuming the modalities of settlement expansion as dependent on the interplay among socioeconomic aspects, territorial constraints and planning regulations, the spatial relationship between this indicator and a vast set of contextual variables was studied at the level of municipalities in a representative case of Mediterranean Europe (Athens, Greece) during both economic expansion (late-1990s) and recession (late-2000s). Results documented a trend toward settlement compaction along the Athens' fringe. Processes of settlement compaction were more evident in municipalities with a town master plan enforced in law. By reconnecting a morphological analysis of urban fabric with a functional characterization of metropolitan regions, our study suggests the importance of spatial planning regulating dispersed urbanization in contexts where informal settlements had reflected the dominant pattern of urban growth for decades. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flood-producing rainfall amounts have a significant cumulative economic impact. Despite the advance in flood risk mitigation measures, the cost of rehabilitation and compensation of citizens by the state and insurance companies is increasing worldwide. A continuing challenge is the flood risk assessment based on reliable hazard and impact measures. The present study addresses this challenge by identifying rainfall thresholds likely to trigger economic losses due to flood damages to properties across the Athens Metropolitan Area of Greece. The analysis uses eight-year rainfall observations from 66 meteorological stations and high spatial resolution insurance claims on the postal code segmentation. Threshold selection techniques were applied based on the ROC curves widely used to assess the performance of binary response models. The model evaluates the probability of flood damages in terms of insurance claims in this case. Thresholds of 24-h rainfall were identified at the municipal level, as municipalities are the first administration level where decision making to address the local risks for the citizens is needed. The rainfall thresholds were further classified to estimate and map the local risk of flood damages. Practical implications regarding the applicability of the detected thresholds in early-warning systems are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Childhood obesity (ChO 1 [1] ChO: Childhood Obesity; OLS: Ordinary Least Square; GWR: Geographically Weighted Regression; SES: Socio-Economic Status; GIS: Geographic Information Systems; AICc: corrected Akaike Information Criterion. ) has been recognized as an epidemic in many developed and developing countries. The understanding of the spatial relationships between ChO and socio-environmental status is critical in order to control this epidemic. In this paper, we investigate these relationships and consider empirical evidence from Athens, Greece. We examine the association between ChO and socioeconomic status (education level, family income) and living conditions (population density, land cover of green and recreational areas) by using both global and local statistical analyses. For this purpose, we used survey obesity data collected in 2007 from 18,296 students in the primary schools of Athens. Moreover, we investigated the significance and spatial inequalities of the association between ChO and socio-environmental conditions of the study area. The results from global statistical modeling showed that education level is the most significant predictor of ChO. Furthermore, local Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) modeling revealed that areas characterized by low educational level, high population density, low family income and limited coverage of green/recreation zones constituted an “obesogenic” environment. The findings of the proposed analysis promote our understanding of the factors influencing childhood obesity and may prove beneficial for the development of policies that target ChO. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of this paper is the application of Life Cycle Assessment to the operation of the MBT facility of Ano Liossia in the region of Attica in Greece. The region of Attica is home to almost half the population of Greece and the management of its waste is a major issue. In order to explicitly analyze the operation of the MBT plant, five scenarios were generated. Actual operation data of the MBT plant for the year 2008 were provided by the region of Attica and the LCA modeling was performed via the SimaPro 5.1 software while impact assessment was performed utilizing the Eco-indicator’99 method. The results of our analysis indicate that even the current operation of the MBT plant is preferable to landfilling. Among the scenarios of MBT operation, the one with complete utilization of the MBT outputs, i.e. compost, RDF, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, is the one that generates the most environmental gains. Our analysis indicates that the exploitation of RDF via incineration is the key factor towards improving the environmental performance of the MBT plant. Our findings provide a quantitative understanding of the MBT plant. Interpretation of results showed that proper operation of the modern waste management systems can lead to substantial reduction of environmental impacts and savings of resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper studies public transport demand by estimating a system of equations for multimodal transit systems where different modes may act competitively or cooperatively. Using data from Athens, Greece, we explicitly correct for higher-order serial correlation in the error terms and investigate two, largely overlooked, questions in the transit literature; first, whether a varying fare structure in a multimodal transit system affects demand and, second, what the determinants of ticket versus travelcard sales may be. Model estimation results suggest that the effect of fare type on ridership levels in a multimodal system varies by mode and by relative ticket to travelcard prices. Further, regardless of competition or cooperation between modes, fare increases will have limited effects on ridership, but the magnitude of these effects does depend on the relative ticket to travelcard prices. Finally, incorrectly assuming serial independence for the error terms during model estimation could yield upward or downward biased parameters and hence result in incorrect inferences and policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Measurements of positive and negative small atmospheric ion concentrations have been made regularly since 1968 at the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). In this paper the 17-year period 1968–1984 is summarized. The diurnal and annual variations are examined, and Fourier analysis is also used for the study of the diurnal variation. The concentrations of small ions follow a double diurnal course. The maxima occur near 3–5 h and 13–16 h local time (LT=GMT+2 h). The minima are observed at 6–8 h and 21–23 h. The annual course of small ions presents maximum concentration values around the summer season. The mean of the small ion concentration (SIC) for the 17-year period (1968–1984) is n + =188.8 ions/cm3 for positive ions and n − =151.1 ions/cm3 for negative ions. Their ratio is equal to 1.25. The year-to-year variation of SIC for the examined period shows a negative trend. The results from multiple regression analysis show that wind speed and SIC are positively correlated, while relative humidity, smoke and sulphur dioxide are negatively correlated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article develops an experimental ethnographic investigation into defacement as a popular modality of historical redress. It takes as its point of departure artistic remediations of archival materials pertaining to the commission, transport, and defacement of the statue of Harry S. Truman in Athens, Greece. At the forefront of the analysis is a consideration of such artistic remediations as extensions of the acts of defacement they (re)present. A political aesthetics of defacement is then elaborated through an experimental ethnography of Cold War historical redress centered around a crime scene investigation into the whereabouts and status of Harry S. Truman in present-day Athens. The experiment involves shifting the terms of historical redress from a focus on the statue of Harry S. Truman as a historiographical object of analytical study to the phantasmagoric modes of its ongoing defacement and (re)presentations in and from post-war Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To measure the prevalence of food insecurity and explore related characteristics and behaviours among people who inject drugs (PWID).Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a community-based programme for HIV infection among PWID (ARISTOTLE programme). Food insecurity was measured by the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Computer-assisted interviews and blood samples were also collected.Setting: A fixed location in Athens Metropolitan Area, Greece, during 2012-2013.Participants: In total, 2834 unique participants with history of injecting drug use in the past 12 months were recruited over four respondent-driven sampling rounds (approximately 1400/round).Results: More than 50 % of PWID were severely or moderately food insecure across all rounds. PWID were more likely to be severely food insecure if they were older than 40 years [adjusted OR (aOR): 1·71, 95 % CI: 1·33-2·19], were women (aOR: 1·49, 95 % CI: 1·17-1·89), from Middle East countries (aOR v. from Greece: 1·80, 95 % CI: 1·04-3·11), had a lower educational level (primary or secondary school v. higher education; aOR: 1·54, 95 % CI: 1·29-1·84), had no current health insurance (aOR: 1·45, 95 % CI: 1·21-1·73), were homeless (aOR: 17·1, 95 % CI: 12·3-23·8) or were living with another drug user (aOR: 1·55, 95 % CI: 1·26-1·91) as compared with those living alone or with family/friends. HIV-infected PWID were more likely to be severely food insecure compared with uninfected (59·0 % v. 51·0 %, respectively, P = 0·002); however, this difference was attributed to the confounding effect of homelessness.Conclusions: Moderate/severe food insecurity was a significant problem, reaching > 50 % in this sample of PWID and closely related to socio-demographic characteristics and especially homelessness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the role of social desirability bias in the willingness to pay (WTP)–willingness to accept (WTA) disparity debate. In the context of a valuation scenario involving air quality in Athens, Greece, we examine whether the well-known WTP–WTA disparity is in place and whether social desirability could be related to this gap by introducing different magnitudes of bias on the two welfare measures. To do so, we contrast the results obtained from the contingent valuation method with those from the inferred valuation method that is believed to mitigate social desirability bias. On the policy side, the study shows that estimates of welfare loss associated with the Greek government's decision to equalize the tax on diesel fuel and heating oil, which had serious side-effects on air quality, vary greatly with respect to the value measure and method of elicitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To conduct psychometric evaluation of the Greek version of the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF) and assess correlation between the scores on BSES-SF and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). METHOD Τhe study was conducted at the largest maternity hospital in Athens, Greece, where 173 eligible pregnant women completed the BSES-SF and the EPDS during their visit to the antenatal outpatient department and 3 days after delivery. The infant feeding method was determined 6 months postpartum. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was carried out to evaluate the construct validity of the BSES-EF scale and the internal consistency was analyzed with Cronbach’s α. The predictive validity was assessed by comparison of the BSES-SF total score, using Student’s t-test, between the women who reported exclusive breastfeeding 6 months postpartum and those that did not. Stepwise multiple linear regression analyses was performed to identify variables independently associated with the BSES-SF total score. P values reported were two-tailed, with statistical significance set at 0.05. Data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0. RESULTS The mean BSES-SF score before birth was 44.2±11.1 and 3 days after birth it had increased significantly to 47.7±12.1 (p<0.001). Internal consistency reliability for the BSES-SF was acceptable, with Cronbach’s α 0.93. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a one-factor structure, with the extracted factors explaining 52.7% of the total variance. The predictive validity of BSES-SF was significant for breastfeeding at 6 months. The BSES-SF score was significantly negatively correlated with the EPDS score before birth (r=- 0.23, p=0.002) and 3 days after the birth (r=-0.22, p=0.008). Higher BSES-SF scores were recorded by women with higher educational level and those who had received breastfeeding support from the obstetrician. CONCLUSIONS The Greek version of the BSES-SF demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity for measuring the breastfeeding self-efficacy of women. The international applicability of the BSES-SF is further evidenced by the results of this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• PM 10 Dust Related Exceedances (DRE) were identified in four Greek cities. • Dust loadings in PM 10 during DRE were higher in Athens. • None of the DRE would have occurred without the dust contributions. • Dust intrusions were mainly originated directly from the Sahara desert. • The subtraction of DRE will help the Greek authorities to reach EU PM 10 standards. African dust intrusions in the atmosphere of continental Greek cities have been previously associated with health impacts. This paper aimed to estimate the participation of Saharan dust in PM 10 episodes which occurred in four cities of continental Greece: Athens, Thessaloniki, Larisa and Ioannina, during the years 2012–2017. Exceedances of the European Union (EU) daily PM 10 concentration limit at background sampling sites situated in the four cities were examined for possible dust contributions with Dust Regional Atmospheric Model (DREAM). The participation of regional background emissions and dust in PM 10 Dust Related Exceedances (DRE) was estimated by an approach based on the daily PM 10 concentrations measured 15 days before and 15 days after the Saharan dust event. The average dust contribution in DRE was higher in Athens in comparison with the other cities. In addition, backward air mass trajectories indicated that the great majority of the studied DRE was triggered by direct dust intrusions from North Africa, whereas some rare cases of dust recirculation were also detected. All the studied DRE at the four cities wouldn't have occurred without the presence of the African dust, thus the suggested approach could be a fast and inexpensive tool in order to isolate the reduced actual number of exceedances attributed to local/regional emissions. Consequently, air quality management can be simplified through the implemented method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Built around 100 CE, the Library of Pantainos had a peculiar rectangular shape and three stoas in front of it that contained shops and a room for the emperor cult. The donor of the library, Titus Flavius Pantainos, and his family created a monument that linked them to the emperor, the Roman Empire, Greece, and the elite of Athens, thus serving as an example of euergetism. Most libraries were endowed and got no revenue from the government. The Library of Pantainos was not endowed nor did it receive public funds. Instead, the stoa shops provided the funding that the library needed to function. The Library of Celsus and Pliny the Younger's library will also be discussed in contrast to Pantainos's library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I show how groups and individuals maintain racialized symbolic boundaries at the micro-level of personal interactions. Using data collected during an ethnographic study in Athens, Greece, where I worked as a fruit vendor in a street market, I detail how local Greek vendors and immigrant workers use language, gesture, olfaction, along with their interpretations of faith and sexuality to reproduce patterns of social distance that allow for racialized stigma and discrimination. I apply the framework of symbolic interactionism and draw from literature on symbolic boundaries to explore how immigrant street market workers experience and resist racialization throughout the interaction order. I show that racialization underlies perceptions of the immigrant "other," especially in the case of Greece where race is often ignored as a crucial factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economic downturns have influenced population dynamics, fuelling social inequalities and income divides across countries and regions. At the same time, urban cycles affected demographic patterns and processes at the very local scale. However, the synergic contribution of urban cycles and economic downturns to population dynamics was less investigated in advanced economies. The present study proposes a spatially explicit analysis of birth, marriage and death rates during a complete urban cycle (1956–2016) with sequential economic expansions and recessions in a European metropolitan region (Athens, Greece). With compact urbanization (late 1950s–late 1970s), fertility was higher in central districts; the reverse pattern was observed during suburbanization (early 1980s–early 2000s). Marriage and death rates, respectively, decreased and increased in a spatially heterogeneous fashion under economic expansions and recessions. Spatial dependency of demographic indicators decreased over time, evidencing more heterogeneous trends during suburbanization. Less clustered population dynamics and a reduced importance of spatial effects were observed in the most recent years coinciding with re-urbanization and economic recession. Results of a canonical correlation analysis demonstrate the importance of local contexts in demographic processes, indicating that urban–rural polarizations have progressively shifted toward more latent spatial trends, e.g. consolidating the divide in wealthier and disadvantaged districts. These findings suggest that population dynamics in Athens were influenced by multiple socioeconomic forces interacting at different geographical scales and reflecting a complex economic-urban cycle. Our study contributes to the debate over present and future development of European cities and justifies the use of a diachronic analysis of demographic dynamics in metropolitan systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]