Inner areas matter: a place-sensitive approach for the identification of the Daily Life Spaces in the Abruzzo Region

Despite the institutionalisation of the issue of inner areas with the National Strategy for Inner Areas (SNAI), a reflection on their spatial organisation is still missing. Our paper aims at filling this gap by providing a methodology aimed at identifying the citizens’ Daily Life Spaces (DLS) in the Abruzzo region. Their identification results from a multi-step algorithm based on an original definition of central places and on the notions of geographical and organised proximity which consider both citizens’ isochrones and commuting flows. Results show that the output of the algorithm can be used as the spatial unit of analysis of cohesion policies. Our methodology is further able to provide the internal spatial organisation of both Labour Market Areas and Project Areas and is consistent with an historical perspective. Finally, it questions the SNAI classification, calling for a revision of its methodology of identification.