SHRINKING RURAL AREAS AS DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEM AREAS – THE EXAMPLE OF POLAND AND AUSTRIA
SHRINKING RURAL AREAS AS DEMOGRAPHIC PROBLEM AREAS – THE EXAMPLE OF POLAND AND AUSTRIA

Summary/Abstract: Aim: The work focuses on demographic problem areas perceived as important types of problem zones. The study aimed to identify rural demographic problem areas in Poland and Austria. Methods: The study covered rural areas identified based on the DEGURBA classification. Data from statistical offices in both countries for the years 2002–2018 was used. When identifying demographic problem areas, changes in the population and the development of selected demographic indicators were taken into account, for which their limit values were set (decisive for including a territorial unit <LAU 2> in a problem area). Results: The studied countries differ in the intensity of depopulation and spatial extent. In both countries, it was found that the number of problematic phenomena increases with the decrease in the rural population. In Poland, 4% of communes classified as rural areas were recognized as problem areas, while in Austria, problem areas covered 9% of communes. Conclusions: The demographic potential is closely related to the socio-economic development of rural areas, which for many communes in the surveyed countries may constitute a barrier to their development in the future.

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