*2.1. Study Area*

Being partitioned in 51 districts ('nomoi' or prefectures) corresponding to the Eurostat NUTS-3 level, Greece (131,982 km<sup>2</sup> ) coincided with the area investigated in the present study. Prefectures in Greece are a sufficiently detailed administrative spatial level to evaluate changes in population distribution as a function of socioeconomic transition (Figure 1). The regions of Athens and Thessaloniki concentrate nearly 50% of the Greek population [66,67]. Medium-sized cities (Iraklio, Patras) and prefectural head towns (e.g., Larisa, Volos, Kalamata, Chania, Kavala, Ioannina) grew substantially [27,32]. By displaying population dynamics contrasting with what was characteristic of tourism-specialized districts in the Aegean region, marginal districts experienced diffused land abandonment, depopulation and economic decline [68].
