EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPATIAL DEMAND AND URBAN STREET ORGANIZATION: THE CASE OF KARDITSA CITY, GREECE

Social structures, economic organization, and the spatial configuration of urban space have long been understood as being shaped through a complex and symbiotic relationship. From a theoretical perspective, urban space is produced through the transformation of the natural environment into a structured built environment, giving rise to land-use patterns redefining existing forms of urban organization. In turn, these configurations attract population flows, thereby generating conditions for urban development and further transformations of the urban structure. Assuming that urban form’s spatial organization reflects the socio-economic forces and processes that have shaped it over time, this paper builds on graph-theoretic modeling and on correlation analysis of network topology measures with land rent values and land-use indicators across the urban network, to examine the degree of urban spatial organization in relation to the demand for urban space. The analysis focuses on the road network of the city of Karditsa, Greece, and provides empirical insights into the connectivity, efficiency, and overall spatial organization of Karditsa’s urban system, while also highlighting the extent to which the demand for urban space contributes to urban fabric’s formation and evolution.

Katerina KARALI - Researcher, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, kathykarali@gmail.com

Dimitrios TSIOTAS - Associate Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, tsiotas@aua.gr (Corresponding Author)

R12, R14, O18, P25

TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO CAPITAL: HOW ADULT EDUCATION AND RVCC UNLOCK COMMUNITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN RURAL TERRITORIES

This study examines how Adult Education and the Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competencies processes (RVCC) can be strategically mobilized to activate human capital, foster local entrepreneurship and promote sustainable development in Almodôvar, a lowdensity rural municipality in the Alentejo region. Based on a qualitative and exploratory approach, supported by semi-structured interviews with 15 participants, including learners and programme promoters, and analysed through thematic analysis, the research repositions competency recognition as a strategic resource rather than merely an educational outcome.The findings show that structured learning pathways and the recognition of experiential knowledge function as catalysts for individual empowerment, increased employability and strengthened entrepreneurial confidence, generating human capital with relevance for local economic dynamics. At the community level, these initiatives reinforce trust-based cooperation networks and stimulate civic engagement, both essential for territorially rooted entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, structural barriers persist, including mobility constraints, scheduling rigidity and resource scarcity, which limit expansion, sustainability and overall impact.

Susana Soares Pinheiro Vieira PESCADA - Assistant Professor, Universidade do Algarve, Portugal spescada@ualg.pt

Fernando José Calado e Silva Nunes TEIXEIRA - Associate Professor, Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Beja, Portugal fernando.teixeira@ipbeja.pt

António Manuel Felício Espírito SANTO - Instituto Politécnico de Beja, Beja, Portugal antonio.espiritosanto@ipbeja.pt

R11, R12, L26, J24, Q18

STRUCTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OECD INTERNATIONAL TRADE NETWORK AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Trade interactions between states, through the exchange of resources and goods and their concomitant social interactions, contribute to enhancing the productive process, spreading technology, and promoting social, institutional, and diplomatic engagements, serving as a long-standing pillar of economic, regional, and cultural development. In this context, this paper examines the economic interdependence created by international trade in the modern global economy, exploring the emerging economic and spatial structures of global trade flows using complex network analysis. This paper focuses on trade interactions and spatial connections among 42 OECD countries, analyzing the structural mechanisms through which each country participates in international trade across different levels of transaction intensity, each representing different scales of economies. Assuming a positive correlation between the intensity of trade exchanges and national economic development, and that the degree of integration into global trade networks contributes to the strengthening of economies of scale, this study calculates network topology and centrality measures, conducting analysis at three levels of network structure: microscopic (local, node-level), mesoscopic (community-level), and macroscopic (global, network-wide). Each level provides distinct perspectives and insights into how interactions among countries shape the global economic landscape. The findings highlight important aspects of strategic cooperation and potential risks in international trade, emphasizing that international trade and economic interdependence, while supporting global development and prosperity, can also act as a source of economic vulnerability during global financial crises.

Stamatia ALMALIOTI - Researcher, Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece, malmalioti@gmail.com

Dimitrios TSIOTAS - Associate Professor, Department of Regional and Economic Development, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece, tsiotas@aua.gr (Corresponding Author)

F14, O19, R12, R15

DETERMINANTS OF DEMAND FOR CITIES WITH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS: AN APPROACH BASED ON FRACTIONAL REGRESSION

Higher education institutions are typically situated in urban areas, making them appealing destinations for students seeking advanced education. This paper aims to explore the factors influencing the demand for cities with these institutions, focusing on the Portuguese context. By analysing distance and the quality of life in municipalities, we can better understand what attracts students to these university cities. Our findings, based on a fractional regression model, reveal that proximity to home and the disparity in rental and accommodation expenses play a significant role in the appeal of these cities for students and their families.

Professor Andreia DIONISIO - Departamento de Gestao & CEFAGE-U.E., Universidade de Evora, Portugal andreia@uevora.pt ORCID: 0000-0002-4289-9312

Professor Cassio ROLIM - Departamento de Economia, Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brasil cassio.rolim@gmail.com ORCID: 0000-0003-4619-5272

Professor Conceicao REGO - Departamento de Economia & CEFAGE-U.E., Universidade de Evora, Portugal mcpr@uevora.pt ORCID: 0000-0002-1257-412X

C21, I23, R12