Navigating Turbulence to Ensure Sustainability: The Role of Economic Sectors in Shaping Regional Resilience in Greece Amid the Economic Crisis and COVID-19

Eleni Gaki, Manolis Christofakis and Andreas Gkouzos
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Eleni Gaki: Department of Business Administration, School of Business, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece
Andreas Gkouzos: Department of Regional and Economic Development, School of Applied Economics and Social Sciences, Agricultural University of Athens, 33100 Amfissa, Greece

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-22

Abstract: This study investigates the impact of two consecutive economic shocks—the 2009–2018 economic crisis and the 2019–2022 COVID-19 pandemic—on the resilience and recovery of Greece’s 13 NUTS II-level Administrative Regions. Using secondary data on employment per sector from the Greek Statistical Authority and Eurostat, resilience is assessed through resistance and recovery indices, complemented by shift-share analysis to identify sectoral and local influences on regional performance. Regions with robust agricultural bases displayed consistent resistance and recovery, while tourism-dependent regions transitioned from high to low resistance during the pandemic. Urban centres like Attiki showed enhanced resilience due to concentrated economic activity and local advantages, forming a high-resistance, fast-recovery cluster. Consequently, regions with local advantages are more resilient in times of crisis. Sectors developing locally due to these advantages strengthen economic resilience, whereas dynamic sectors at the national level relying on external environments are more vulnerable, recovering more slowly and impacting host regions. Strong concentration economies alongside local advantages further bolster resilience. Strengthening local economic structures and diversifying activities are crucial for mitigating disparities. This study underscores the importance of tailored sustainable policies to enhance resilience and ensure long-term regional sustainability.

Keywords: regional economic resilience; sustainability; economic crisis; COVID-19; Greek regions; economic branches (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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