Local Development and Sustainability: Territorial Dynamics Between Economy and Ecology examines the relationships between social inequalities, demographic change, territorial disparities, and environmental challenges in advanced economies, including empirical evidence spanning Europe, the Middle East, and global contexts. The book uniquely links local development with sustainability, wellbeing, and quality of life, emphasizing the kaleidoscopic and unpredictable nature of territorial transformations. Sections cover geo-economic and territorial issues, socio-demographic implications, socio-environmental perspectives, and planning and governance. Topics include urban expansion, landscape valorization, spatial demography, wildfire behavior, land degradation, administrative reforms, and resilience plans.

Each chapter is authored by respected scholars from various countries, offering case studies, visual data, and comprehensive analyses that highlight applied approaches and policy implications. This reference benefits academics, researchers, and students in economics, geography, sociology, demography, socio-environmental science, and planning. It also serves practitioners such as planners, architects, and policymakers interested in sustainable local development and territorial governance.

• Provides an interdisciplinary perspective that links economics, ecology, sociology, demography, and planning to elucidate complex local development processes
• Presents case studies, maps, graphs, and visual aids to facilitate comprehension of territorial dynamics and sustainability challenges
• Offers a structured, homogeneous chapter format that aids readers in systematic learning and comparison across diverse territorial and socioeconomic contexts