This PhD was produced by Lorenzo Marmo in the framework of CORAL-ITN, a Marie Sklodowska Curie Innovative Training Network (2021–2024) which aims to unpack the latent dynamics and impacts of collaborative workspaces in rural and peripheral areas and integrate them as development tools in local and regional policies to open up new potentials for socio-economic development.
The research develops an impact assessment methodology to evaluate the social and environmental impacts of Collaborative Workspaces (CWS) on their users and surrounding communities across Europe. Combining the Theory of Change and the Multidimensional Approach, the study proposes a framework of input, output, and outcome indicators to capture the resources, activities, and effects of CWS in both urban and rural contexts.
Drawing on survey data from 273 CWS managers across 34 European countries, the research applies econometric analysis to examine how location, organisational characteristics, and social practices shape the role of CWS in fostering networks, cultural value, inclusivity, and environmental sustainability.
