**5. Conclusions**

Results of our study illustrate long-term demographic dynamics in 51 Greek prefectures (1940–2019) providing evidence to settlement (re)distribution along basic geographic gradients. Prefectures are comprehensive and homogeneous spatial units when investigating patterns of population (re)distribution in Greece under different economic conditions, having empirical relevance to demographic issues. Exploratory data analysis indicates a particularly complex regional framework with diversified metropolitan dimensions. Going beyond traditional theories linking urbanization with scale/agglomeration economies, these findings suggest the importance of a comparative analysis of demographic processes aimed at confirming (or confuting) such trends. This analysis contributes to interpret the other phases of the urban cycle (from suburbanization to re-urbanization) as primarily associated with 'soft' economic and alternative non-economic aspects of local development, including amenities, specialization in advanced services, the increased impact of economic downturns, as well as gentrification, class segregation and social filtering.

By reverting the paradigm of growth in high-density areas, the specificity of the 'Greek' model delineates new developmental paths going beyond the traditional dichotomy in compact and dispersed settlements. Highlighting the role of 'intermediate' districts, in-between large cities and economically depressed rural areas, our findings outline how a long process of spatial redistribution of settlements led—directly or indirectly—to a sort of (functional) polycentric development. Non-urban prefectures in coastal regions and in accessible, rural areas were the engine of such development path. These districts were also regarded as resilient, since they attract population in a context of demographic stagnation at the country scale, with intense shrinkage of the main urban centers. Our study definitely confirms the informative power of a multiscale investigation of the differential impact of metropolitan cycles and economic downturns in past, present and future population growth. In such perspectives, future studies are increasingly required to develop a refined analysis of the intrinsic linkage between demographic growth and long-term economic development at an enough detailed scale of investigation (prefectures, local districts, municipalities) and based on appropriate socioeconomic indicators.

**Author Contributions:** Conceptualization, L.S. and R.S.; methodology, G.Q. and G.E.; software, G.E.; validation, R.S.; formal analysis, L.S., J.R.C. and G.E.; investigation, G.Q. and R.S.; resources, G.E. and L.S.; data curation, G.E. and R.S.; writing—original draft preparation, L.S., J.R.C. and G.E.; writing—review and editing, R.S., J.R.C. and G.Q.; visualization, G.E.; supervision, G.Q.; project administration, G.Q.; funding acquisition, G.E. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

**Funding:** This work received no funding.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
