Rural areas are significantly affected by spatial vulnerability, the digital gap, depopulation, and population ageing. Marginalized populations are seeking collective well-being, social inclusion, and local development in smart villages, an increasingly important area of interest for scholars and practitioners as well as rural areas and communities. This article attempts to highlight the dominant trends in smart villages planning and depict the characteristics of Greek rural areas and populations alongside the implemented localized smart actions. To achieve this aim, the research utilized the existing literature through bibliometric analysis by extracting data from the Web of Science database. Building upon the bibliometrics, the research focused on identifying localized implemented interventions in the Greek rural areas. The results suggest that innovation, knowledge, growth, and management appear to impact rural smart planning, while the limited interventions of smart villages in Greece focus on social innovation and local development. The study argues that in Greece, a single holistic smart villages model cannot be proposed, due to the country’s geographical and demographical variability. The proposed trends, though, can be implemented locally to encourage rural development and population inclusion; therefore it is recommended to increase local stakeholders’ awareness and active engagement.

The onset of the coronavirus pandemic led to profound changes in populations’ everyday lives. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the factors that affected life satisfaction during the first-wave lockdown in Greece. A web-based survey was developed, and 4305 questionnaires were completed corresponding to all Greek regional units. Statistical modeling (multivariate logistic regression) was performed to evaluate to which extent significant geographical attributes and socioeconomic characteristics are likely to influence life satisfaction during lockdown due to the pandemic. In the course of the present work, some key findings emerged: social distancing and confinement measures affected mostly women in relation to men; there was a strong positive association between life satisfaction and age, especially as regards the older population; changes to employment status, increase in psychosomatic disorders, and increased usage of social media were also likely to negatively impact people’s life satisfaction. By contrast, trust in the government and the media and limited health concerns seem to have a strong association with subjective wellbeing. Finally, life satisfaction does not depend much on geographical characteristics such as urbanity or insularity, highlighting that the lockdown had an impact on the Greek population regardless of the physical isolation.

The COVID-19 pandemic, its duration, and its intensity are harbingers of demographic change. In the context of social demography, it is crucial to explore the social challenge emerging from the coronavirus disease. The main purpose of this study is (i) to explore the determinants that affected the population in Greece in terms of social isolation during the lockdown period and (ii) to examine possible differences in the assessment of the social isolation factors depending on whether individuals live in urban or rural areas or regions with relative geographical isolation. Field research was conducted with 4216 questionnaires during the first wave of COVID-19 (March to April 2020). Multivariate analysis methods were applied to detect the main factors that impacted the feeling of social isolation, and nonparametric tests were performed to detect possible differences between population groups. Despite the resistance shown to the spread of the disease, the Greek population totally complied with the measures of social distancing and thus was socially and psychologically affected. The results indicate that psychosomatic disorders, employment situations, changes in sleep habits, socialization on the Internet, demographic status, health concerns, and trust in government and the media response determine the Greeks’ social isolation feeling. Pandemic and confinement measures have consequences for individuals and social groups and may prejudice social cohesion at multiple levels. By understanding how the pandemic affected the societies, interventions and public policies may be implemented to ensure both social cohesion and populations’ wellbeing by addressing the social isolation feeling.

The main purpose of this paper stems from the need for a systematic study of the multiple components that determine the factors that attract residents of urban centers to rural areas in Greece. Based on Multicriteria Analysis (Explanatory Factor Analysis and Hierarchical Analysis) of the last censuses data (2001–2011), the main types (spatial patterns) of Greek municipalities that have potential prospects for settlement are assessed. At the same time, age profiles of people who tend to enter specific types of municipalities are explored, highlighting both the attractiveness factors of the rural areas and what the internal migrant is looking for at the settlement destination. Distinct spatial patterns of counterurbanization can be identified in Greece based on age, physical amenities, employment structures, offer of services, degree of isolation, and the cost of living in the recipient location. Finally, the results identify that spatial, demographic, social and economic inequalities are decisive in the interpretation of internal migration flows.

The recent pandemic has had a considerable impact on sociodemographic development and generated a new interest in human mobility. The current study aims to examine the effects of sociodemographic development and the push-pull of brain drain as well as COVID-19-related factors on Greek medical students’ intentions to emigrate. A total of 531 undergraduate medical students completed an online survey during the second transmission wave of the pandemic in Greece (from October to December 2020). The results showed that many students were considering emigrating after their graduation. A multiple regression analysis revealed that males and younger students presented a higher likelihood of emigration. The low absorption rate of physicians in Greece, lack of career prospects, low earnings, general frustration with the governance, and the cultural mindset of the Greek population were predictors of the medical brain drain. In many cases, COVID-19 strengthened the resolve to emigrate as most medical students did not consider the pandemic to be a deterrent to seeking better luck abroad.

In the context of the crisis and its economic and social impacts the livelihoods revisited. As an alternative to the economic impasse, a pattern on counterurbanization has signifi cantly emerged. The main purpose of the present study is to explore the dynamics of the countryside through the attractiveness of the urban population. An econometric model was applied to data from population Censuses and Hellenic Statistical Authority registers. The fi ndings suggest that the ex-urbans prefer not remote, urban-like destinations, with infrastructure and services, while more attractive seem to be the areas with employment opportunities.