Thesis defense - Anton PAUMELLE - Géographie-cités

Anton Paumelle ( EHESS / Géographie-cités) will present his doctoral thesis, supervised by Anne Bretagnolle and Nicolas Verdier: “The Ageing Population, a Renewal for French Very-small towns? Socio-economic Dynamics and Public Action”

Monday, October 14, 2024
14h15
Condorcet Campus
Humathèque Auditorium
10 cours des Humanités
93322, Aubervilliers

Jury

– Olivier Bouba-Olga, Professor, University of Poitiers, Head of Studies and Forecasting, Nouvelle-Aquitaine Region – Rapporteur

– Anne Bretagnolle, Professor, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne – Thesis supervisor

– Yoann Doignon, CNRS Research Fellow – Examiner

– Hélène Mainet, Professor, Université Clermont Auvergne – Rapporteur

– Marie-Vic Ozouf-Marignier, Director of Studies, EHESS – Examiner

– Magali Talandier, Professor, Université Grenoble-Alpes – Examiner

– Nicolas Verdier, Director of Research at CNRS and Director of Studies at EHESS – Thesis Director

Summary of thesis

In France, very small towns have become municipalities with the highest proportion of elderly people, much more than villages and cities. Our study aims to investigate the factors and effects of population ageing on the territorial dynamics of very small towns. It proposes a renewed definition of these municipalities based on a functional approach that takes into account the diversity of French rural areas.

Thank to mixed methods (statistical analyses and field studies), the findings show a reinterpretation of the ageing phenomenon in these municipalities. Contrary to popular belief, ageing of very small towns is partly due to their residential attractiveness to a wide variety of retirees. Furthermore, this work highlights the key role of elderly people in maintaining the population, facilities, economic activities, and social life of these rural centers. It also highlights the socio-economic diversity of ageing in these municipalities on a national scale. Finally, this thesis reveals a gap between public policies and socio-economics dynamics observed. It questions the emergence of a new role for very small towns in rural areas and its alignment with public policies”.