«Le dépeuplement dans le Val d'Aoste : les causes et les conséquences» (Depopulation in Aosta valley : causes and consequences)

Abstract

Abstract. - The Aosta Valley region displays at the same time a strong demographic growth in the Plain, the narrow strip of lowlands along the Dora Baltea river (1861/2001, + 162 %) and depopulation in the highlands i.e. the Mountains (1861/2001, - 36 %). Along the line of official statistics this paper analyzes the development of this phenomenon during 140 years, from 1861 to 2001. This study demonstrates that in the Mountains the patterns and causes of depopulation are different in the period 1861-1961 from the following period. In the first period the cause of depopulation is the preceding overpopulation, responsible of endemic poverty. After 1961, although, demographic pressure diminished and life quality improved, depopulation carried on because of the objective difficulties of Mountains to adapt itself to the market economy, and because of a strong pattern of decreasing birth rate in the vast majority of mountain communities. Those who relinquish their villages in the high valleys do not emigrate in far away countries as they used to, but find new homes in the Plain, where urbanization is increasing year by year.