Addressing inner peripherality using a multi-level, integrated social-biophysical perspective: A pilot application of the PAISDA framework to the inner areas of Campania Region in Italy.

Inner peripheries can be defined as marginalized rural areas characterized by socio-economic decline but generally endowed with significant environmental resources, covering almost half of Europe's territory. Today's deep territorial imbalances in Europe are the result of decades of spatially blind development policies. In response, place-based approaches have emerged, advocating for integrated assessments of territorial resources to identify untapped potential and critical factors of vulnerability. Given the scale and complexity of inner peripherality, shaped by intertwined socio-ecological challenges, we argue that a coordinated European research program is imperative to complement local and national perspectives. Such a unified approach should ensure consistency while allowing for contextual adaptability in policy design and implementation. As a first step in this direction, this study explores the suitability of the PAISDA framework (through its pilot application in four inner areas of the Campania Region, Italy) as a complementary tool to support cohesion policy implementation. PAISDA is a multi-level, integrated social-biophysical tool designed to assess and compare territorial capital in inner peripheries through statistical analysis and multi-criteria decision aid (MCDA). The PAISDA methodology has shown promising results, demonstrating its capacity to comprehensively map territorial strengths and vulnerabilities of inner areas and rank them in both static and dynamic analysis. Furthermore, the methodology is robust to parameter changes and flexible in indicator selection, but wider European applications are needed for further validation. Ultimately, this study advocates for a harmonized, evidence-based approach to addressing inner peripherality and marginalization, bridging the gap between top-down, space-blind policies and context-sensitive, place-based strategies.