Amenity migration: diverse conceptualizations of drivers, socioeconomic dimensions, and emerging challenges

Abstract

Rural communities throughout the postindustrial world are in the midst of a significant transition, sometimes referred to as rural restructuring, as traditional land uses, economic activities, and social arrangements transition to those associated with ''post-productivist'' or ''multifunctional'' landscapes. Amenity migration, the movement of people based on the draw of natural and/or cultural amenities, can be thought of as both driver and implication of this transition, resulting in significant changes in the ownership, use, and governance of rural lands, as well as in the composition and socioeconomic dynamics of rural communities. In concert with other social, economic and political processes, amenity migration is contributing to the fundamental transformation of rural communities throughout the world. This paper presents a review of the social science literature related to the concept of amenity migration, focusing on the ways in which it has been conceptualized, theorized, and documented by different communities of scholars. We then profile and summarize diverse perspectives on drivers and socioeconomic impacts, highlighting emerging challenges and opportunities related to this type of migration occurring at multiple scales and in multiple sites. The paper also identifies and discusses particular areas where further research is needed.

Rural gentrification in the North Aegean Countryside (Turkey)

“…Production theory explains the process with a Marxist approach by focusing on alteration of production methods and economic structure. The fall in workforce in the agricultural and industrial sectors and the increase in employment in the service sector is a major indicator of the post-productive economy (Walker & Fortmann, 2003;Darling, 2005;Gosnell & Abrams, 2011;Phillips, 2009). According to production theory state-led gentrification via planning decisions and housing policies play a significant role in both rural and urban communities.…”

“…Rural gentrification literature has to a significant extent developed with research that addresses the United Kingdom (Phillips, 1993;Chaney & Sherwood, 2000;Smith D. P., 2002;Phillips, 2004;Phillips, 2007;Stockdale, 2010;Heley, 2010) and United States of America countryside (Ghose, 2004;Friedberger, 1996;Darling, 2005;Walker & Fortmann, 2003;Hines, 2010;Gosnell & Abrams, 2011;Nelson et al, 2010). Researches that discuss gentrification processes in rural areas of other developed countries (Bijker et al, 2012;Guimond & Simard, 2010) and Mediterranean countries (Solana-Solana, 2010) are informative, but are limited in number and point to a significant gap in the literature.…”

Contextualising typologies of environmentally induced population movement

“…Yet, Myers (2001), Brown (2004), and others detail what they label as the rapidly increasing number of incidents in connection with environmental change that displace people. The environment can also play a role as a pull factor such as in the case of "amenity migration" that is defined as (relatively) voluntary migration motivated by the opportunity to live in a better natural (or social) environment (Gosnell and Abrams, 2011).…”

“…This movement is often proactive and can be viewed as a coping or adaptation strategy -or as a failure to cope or adapt leading them to move. "Amenity migrants" (Gosnell and Abrams, 2011), who also move voluntarily, are excluded from this category because amenity migrants have the environment as a pull factor, whereas this category concentrates on the environment as a push factor.…”

The Paradox of Engagement: Land Stewardship and Invasive Weeds in Amenity Landscapes

“…Amenity migration involves an influx of newcomers (exurbanites) to rural areas who do not necessarily seek to earn a living from the land but rather celebrate it for the lifestyle amenities it provides (Gosnell & Abrams, 2011), such as "natural scenery, proximity to outdoor recreation, cultural richness, or a sense of rurality" (Abrams et al, 2012, p. 270). Landscapes once dominated by cultivated fields, extractive industries, and livestock are being transformed into areas that are multifunctional -mixed landscapes of production and consumption (Argent, Smailes, & Griffin, 2007;Gosnell & Abrams, 2009;Holmes, 2006;5 Wilson, 2007).…”