MARGINALISED ZONES AS STATISTICAL INSTRUMENTS TO NAVIGATE PERMACRISIS IMPACTS IN EUROPEAN REGIONS

Cristina LINCARU

PhD, FeRSA, Department of Labour Market, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

cristina.lincaru@yahoo.de

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6596-1820

Gabriela TUDOSE

PhD, Senior Researcher, II-nd degree, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

gabriela_tudose@yahoo.com

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-340-9987

Adriana GRIGORESCU

PhD Full Professor, SNSPA; Director of Global Economy & Governance Interdisciplinary Research Platform; AOSR; INCE; LEAD Cambridge, MA; UCLM Spain

adrianagrigorescu11@gmail.com

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4212-6974

Speranța PÎRCIOG

PhD, Scientific Director, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

pirciog@incsmps.ro

ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0215-038X

Cristina STROE

Senior Researcher II-nd degree, National Scientific Research Institute for Labour and Social Protection, Bucharest, Romania

cristina.radu@incsmps.ro

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8384-6084

Abstract

In the context of overlapping and interrelated crises—economic, ecological, social, and geopolitical—European regions are confronted with new governance challenges. Marginalised zones, often treated as residual spaces in policy discourse, must be reimagined as analytical and governance instruments in the transition toward sustainability and territorial resilience. This article explores how marginalised areas can be conceptualised and operationalised through spatial statistical methodologies and policy frameworks that support just transition processes. Drawing on a critical review of empirical studies and strategic European and Romanian documents, we synthesise the main tools used to identify territorial disparities, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), clustering algorithms, fuzzy logic, spatial econometrics, and machine learning. We confirm that these methods allow for more nuanced territorial diagnostics and typologies, which are essential for evidence-based and place-based policies. The article advances a transdisciplinary framework that repositions marginalised zones as strategic levers in adaptive territorial governance. Ultimately, we argue for a paradigm shift: from periphery to policy, where marginalised regions evolve from passive recipients of aid to active instruments of just transition.

Keywords: Marginalised regions, Just transition, Spatial inequality, Territorial resilience, Governance instruments, PCA, Clustering, Fuzzy logic, Regional typologies, Permacrisis

JEL classification: R11, R58, O18, Q56, C38

pp.155-165

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PICTURING SPANISH FILMGOERS: MOTIVES, BARRIERS AND FILM THEATRES

Manuel CUADRADO-GARCÍA

Marketing Department, Universitat de València, Spain

Manuel.Cuadrado@uv.es

Nela FILIMON

Corresponding author

Economics Department, Universitat de Girona, Spain

Nela.Filimon@udg.edu

Juan D. MONTORO-PONS

Applied Economics Department, Universitat de València, Spain

Juan.D.Montoro@uv.es

Abstract

Findings on European countries show non-uniform decreasing trends of film theatres’ audiences, the decline being more severe in Spain. This research presents a multifaceted perspective of Spanish filmgoers focused on motives for and barriers to film theatres attendance. Two comprehensive scales (motives, barriers) are proposed. First, motives and barriers are optimally scaled with principal components analysis (PCA); and, second, we identify segments of filmgoers with latent class modelling (LC). PCA recommended a five-factor solution for motives (education, film popularity, film quality, social interaction, and mood) and a seven-factor solution for barriers (film offerings, venue’s features, perception, preference and place, substitute activities, financial restrictions, recreation time disposability). LC analysis suggested three segments: mainstream filmgoers who watch films in multiplexes in shopping centers and in the center of the city; art-house filmgoers; and filmgoers who go to film theatres to watch films in original version. The socioeconomic and behavioral covariates complete the profile of the clusters, and the findings are consistent with the existing evidence on film audiences. Increasing cultural participation is the objective of many governments’ cultural policies and a more comprehensive understanding of film audiences can contribute to this.

Keywords: filmgoers, motives, barriers, latent-class models, PCA

JEL classification: M310, Z11
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