The commuting phenomenon as a complex network: The case of Greece

TL;DR

This paper applies complex network analysis to the Greek interregional commuting network, revealing how infrastructure and spatial constraints shape regional development and commuting patterns.

Contribution

It introduces an interdisciplinary approach combining complex network measures with empirical regression analysis to study regional commuting in Greece.

Findings

Spatial constraints influence network structure

Major infrastructure projects impact connectivity

High-population cities attract more commuters

Abstract

This article studies the Greek interregional commuting network (GRN) by using measures and methods of complex network analysis and empirical techniques. The study aims to detect structural characteristics of the commuting phenomenon, which are configured by the functionality of the land transport infrastructures, and to interpret how this network serves and promotes the regional development. In the empirical analysis, a multiple linear regression model for the number of commuters is constructed, which is based on the conceptual framework of the term network, in effort to promote the interdisciplinary dialogue. The analysis highlights the effect of the spatial constraints on the network's structure, provides information on the major road transport infrastructure projects that constructed recently and influenced the country capacity, and outlines a gravity pattern describing the commuting phenomenon, which expresses that cities of high population attract large volumes of commuting activity within their boundaries, a fact that contributes to the reduction of their outgoing commuting and consequently to the increase of their inbound productivity. Overall, this paper highlights the effectiveness of complex network analysis in the modeling of spatial and particularly of transportation network and promotes the use of the network paradigm in the spatial and regional research.