A new article by Pablo Villar-Abeijón, Carme Miralles-Guasch and Oriol Marquet has been published in Applied Geography. The paper, titled “The effects of pedestrianization on commercial dynamics: A quasi-experimental study in Barcelona”, examines how pedestrianization affects local commercial activity and retail change.
The study contributes to ATRAPA’s broader interest in the social and economic consequences of built-environment transformations. While pedestrianization is often promoted as a way to improve urban livability, sustainable mobility and local economic vitality, it can also raise concerns about commercial change, gentrification and displacement. The article uses a quasi-experimental approach to assess these dynamics in Barcelona.
This publication complements previous ATRAPA-related work on whether pedestrianization can trigger sociodemographic changes associated with gentrification, and adds a new commercial dimension to the project’s analysis of urban transformation and public opposition.
Publication:
Villar-Abeijón, P., Miralles-Guasch, C., & Marquet, O. (2026). The effects of pedestrianization on commercial dynamics: A quasi-experimental study in Barcelona. Applied Geography, 189, 103947. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2026.103947
The article has also generated significant interest when shared on social media, sparking discussion among researchers and practitioners.
