Unveiling Spatial and Sociodemographic Patterns during the Rise of Solo Living in Spain: A Comparison between the Provinces of Jaen and Barcelona

Antonio D. Cámara , University of Jaen
Inmaculada Barroso-Benítez, University of Jaen
Carmen Rodríguez-Guzmán, University of Jaen
Francisco Barros-Rodríguez, University of Jaen

At different tempo and pace, all European countries are partaking of a process of living atomization (increase of people living alone). Broadly speaking, this phenomenon may be inserted in the process of diversification of family and living arrangements that characterized the second demographic transition. As in other aspects of sociodemographic changes, this Southern European country represents a case of latecomer as well as a case of quick and intense catch-up. In this work, we cope with the rise of solo-living in Spain aiming at uncovering spatial and sociodemographic dynamics. The interest of this approach is double fold. On one hand, the socioeconomic and demographic implications of the phenomenon are likely to be unevenly spread on the space. On the other, the combination of sociodemographic and spatial analysis at different geographical levels may shed some light on the underlying mechanisms of the rise of solo living as well as on the processes that this phenomenon is likely to trigger (e.g. socioeconomic and/or demographic segregation on the space). Our work rest on straightforward descriptive techniques (calculation of proportions of OPHs by diverse sociodemographic and geographical variables at two cut-off points: 1991 and 2018). This is done by using microdata files provided by the Spanish National Statistics Office. In addition we use census data and digital cartography in order to assess patterns and differentials of solo-living at province and municipal levels in 2011. This is done by comparing to Spanish provinces: Jaen and Barcelona.

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 Presented in Session P3. Poster Session Migration, Economics, Environment, Methods, History and Policy