I am very pleased to share our latest article, “The interplay between gentrification and touristification as the main driver of the suburbanization of poverty in contemporary Madrid”, published in Cidades, Comunidades e Territórios.
Co-authored with Álvaro Mazorra Rodríguez, Jordi Nofre, and Manuel Garcia-Ruiz, this paper develops a mixed-methods analysis of the transformations currently reshaping Madrid.
Beyond parallel processes: a combined mechanism
A central argument of the paper is that gentrification and touristification should not be understood as parallel or independent processes. Rather, their interaction produces a compounded effect that intensifies displacement dynamics.
In the case of Lavapiés, this interaction is particularly visible: the expansion of short-term rentals, the reconfiguration of commercial landscapes, and the symbolic rebranding of the neighbourhood converge with longer-term processes of class restructuring. Together, they accelerate the expulsion of vulnerable populations.
From central displacement to peripheral reconfiguration
One of the key contributions of the article is to frame these dynamics not only as displacement, but as a broader process of suburbanization of poverty. What is at stake is not simply who leaves the neighbourhood, but where they go and under what conditions.
This shift implies a reconfiguration of socio-spatial inequalities at the metropolitan scale, with increasing pressure on peripheral areas that absorb displaced populations while often lacking adequate infrastructure, services, and opportunities.
A collaborative effort
I would especially like to highlight the outstanding work of Álvaro Mazorra, whose research drives the empirical depth of the article, as well as Jordi Nofre’s long-standing contributions to critical urban and nightlife studies, which are central to the conceptual framing of this piece.
Beyond the academic collaboration, this has been a long-standing intellectual exchange and a shared research trajectory, which makes this publication particularly meaningful.
Contributing to ongoing debates
We hope this article contributes to current discussions on urban transformations, inequality, and the governance of tourism in European cities. Understanding how these processes intersect is key to developing more informed and equitable urban policies.
Open Access: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/cct/article/view/38915
Manuel Garcia-Ruiz 