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Nowadays, around half of the global population lives in urban areas. This rate is expected to increase up to two-thirds by the year 2050. Most studies analyze urban dynamics in wide geographic ranges, focusing mainly on cities. According to them, the global population is spatially distributed (and polarized) in two extremes: large urban agglomerations and rural deserts. However, this remark is excessively general and imprecise. For this reason, it remains essential to analyze these dynamics at other spatial scales. A close-up look in thinly populated regions shows how urban dynamics are also noticeable. In this paper, we analyze spatiotemporal patterns of population distribution in a predominantly rural area by applying a local-scale approach. These patterns are represented by using spatial networks with nodes representing the human settlements and links showing hierarchies between nodes. This case study is conducted in a small municipality located in northwestern Spain. It is a predominantly rural area with a very particular spatial pattern of population distribution.

The identities of territories are (re)produced through narratives which select certain characteristics of a territorial entity to influence the perceptions that people and institutions have of it. In the current socioeconomic conditions, these identities can provide a competitive advantage to marginalized areas, due to the possibilities that this offers to exhibit the uniqueness of their territories and products. In order to benefit from the economies generated by the identities of territories, it is necessary to identify joint narratives which are both distinctive and capable of unifying different stakeholders around a shared identity. Using three depopulated NUTS 3 (European Union’s Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics on level 3) in the North of Portugal as case studies, we apply a content analysis of different sources to understand how the identities of territories have been (re)produced and identify the coherences and disparities between different narratives. Although there are many factors that hinder the consolidation of the identities of territories at a subnational scale in continental Portugal, generating economies based on these identities could be done through the identification of common characteristics among municipalities.

The incorporation of territorial development into the Common Fisheries Policy has allowed for the decentralised and participatory management of part of its funds. In fact, the criteria for sustainable development in fishing zones follow the guidelines of Community‐Led Local Development. This work critically examines the implementation process of Axis 4 of the European Fisheries Fund in two areas of the Iberian Peninsula’s Atlantic coast as case studies, looking into the creation of Fishery Local Action Groups and the analysis of the planning and execution phases of the funds. The results show, on the one hand, the limited development of this approach and the doubts about the effectiveness of area‐based partnerships as tools for local development, and on the other, the benefits for the revitalisation of the fishing sector, especially in the long term.

The Health system in Spain is considered one of the most valued public services by the population. In fact, during the first decade of the 21st century, Spain became a health tourism destination for people from central and northern European countries. In addition to the health infrastructure, the quality of medical and nursing care stands out. Something similar also happens with the Spanish pharmaceutical system. However, there are some characteristics that should be addressed from a Geography perspective. The pharmacies’ legal system does not consider them to be of public interest. One is when some of the main activities are the sale and distribution of medicines that are partially paid for by the Administration, that is, Social Security. In the same activity, the public function is combined with the private interests of the pharmacy owners to provide a balanced territorial service. One of the conclusions demonstrates how the borders that are sometimes created by the Administration are not always the most efficient in relation to the characteristics of the territory, nor do they provide the best service to the population and, therefore, create territorial imbalances within a country. To reach our conclusions, we carried out an exhaustive study of the pharmacy legislation in the EU and in Spain, as well as Geography of Health and theories of territorial location. We combined this information with statistics on the territorial characteristics of Spain. This allowed us to confirm the peculiarities that exist within the governance of the distribution of pharmacy offices in Spain.