Depopulation Trends Research Articles

The Displacement Myth: Second Home Tourism in the Stockholm Archipelago

Second homes are important for many households in Sweden. However, second homes are not uncontroversial and sometimes cause conflicts between the second home owners and locals. In attractive destinations, second homes are frequently blamed for creating price inflation, increased property values and higher property tax for all dwellings, including permanent homes. It is argued that this development is causing a displacement of permanent residents from these areas. However, others argue that the current depopulation trend in attractive second home destinations is caused by a restructuring of the rural labour market. This study departs from this societal and scientific conflict and has its aim in testing the displacement theory. This is done through an empirical case study dealing with essential issues regarding the development of second homes, permanent homes and changes in property values. The case area is the most popular second home destination in Sweden: the archipelago of Stockholm. Results show that increased assessed property values are caused primarily by increasing numbers of permanent homes, and the area is being repopulated rather than depopulated. The study concludes that no evidence of displacement caused by second home demand can be traced on a regional geographical level.

Reproductive function and the young: Potential, evaluation and restrictive factors

In view of the intensification of the depopulation trend in our country it is necessary to implement modern and efficient programs of population policy. Creation of effective programs of population policy requires knowing of all aspects of existing pronatal potentials and possible restrictive factors. One such aspect is the evaluation of the reproductive function among young people, bearers of the future natality trends. The work describes and discusses the attitude of the young toward the reproductive function. Also it is concerned with certain factors that can impair the importance and impact of pronatal potentials conditioned by highly valued reproductive function. As the most important one, we singled out the set of factors concerning psychological price of parenthood, especially with women, in view of the competitive-conflicting action of modern woman. Also, an account was given of the potential influence of patrilinearity as of a restrictive factor of pronatal movements.

Exile and demographic population growth in Serbia

The data of the 2002 population census on refugee population are analyzed in this paper with a basic aim to determine the significance (contribution) of refugee corpus in demographic development of the Republic of Serbia. By analyzing the data, it has been determined that the refugee corpus does not significantly differ from the domicile population in the basic, above all demographic and other qualitative characteristics. The differences which can be noticed with certain (primarily socio-economic) characteristics, due to the proportionally small participation of refugee persons in relation to the total (domicile) population, could not significantly influence the total demographic, socio-economic and other characteristics of the population of central Serbia and Vojvodina. The most significant contribution of refugee (classifying the refugee corpus in the country's total population) is reflected in the mitigation of the depopulation trend, namely population growth, not only both micro-entities, but also lower administrative-territorial entities (districts) depending on the enumerated refugee population in them. However, population projections indicate that by the middle of this century (2050) the positive effects of the basically larger number of inhabitants will be lost caused by the inflow of refugee population.

Consequences of pastoral abandonment for the structure and diversity of the alpine avifauna

Summary There is a long‐term trend of depopulation of rural areas and pasture abandonment throughout the Alps. This trend peaked after the Second World War and is now omnipresent. Its ecological consequences are evident mostly below the timberline, where grassland gradually turns into shrub and, ultimately, to forest. This study addresses the consequences of land abandonment and the decline of pastoral practices on the diversity and structure of the bird communities of the Italian Alps. The breeding birds of Gran Paradiso Natural Park in north‐western Italy were surveyed, and bird diversity, abundance of grassland, ecotone, woodland and shrub species were analysed using regression in relation to a set of explanatory variables including elevation, local habitat variables, landscape variables and grazing intensity. Avian diversity increased in abandoned pastures as higher numbers of shrub species followed tree and shrub encroachment. Conversely, open habitat species that benefited from grazing were mostly confined to pure grasslands and high altitudes. The effects of grazing were more evident in the montane belt. Grazing maintained open habitats by limiting tree and scrub encroachment, thereby favouring grassland bird species. At higher altitudes, however, grazing had little effect on typical open habitat alpine species (choughs Pyrrhocorax spp., water pipit Anthus spinoletta, alpine accentor Prunella collaris, wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, snow finch Montifringilla nivalis, rock thrush Monticola saxatilis) and only skylark Alauda arvensis and linnet Carduelis cannabina preferred grazed meadows. Synthesis and applications. This study shows that the abandonment of grazing in the Alps has significant effects on bird species diversity and abundance, especially below the timberline where pastoral decline leads to significant changes in vegetation structure. However, grazing importance differs markedly depending on whether the focus is avian α‐diversity or grassland bird abundance. Pastoral abandonment leads to an overall increase in avian diversity, but most species invading abandoned pastures are already common, whereas several grassland bird species that are dependent upon grazed pastures have an unfavourable conservation status. Overall, in terms of bird conservation objectives, large‐scale abandonment of long‐established pastoral habitats and their complete replacement with scrub, or even forest, is likely to be detrimental.

Reconstructing the Small Area Geography of Mid‐Wales for an Analysis of Population Change 1961–95

AbstractReversal of the long‐established trend of rural depopulation during recent decades has countered the continuing decline to which peripheral rural areas of developed countries were condemned in the 1960s. This paper reconstructs the small area geography of Mid‐Wales in order to provide a set of consistent small spatial units for examining net intercensal population and household change since 1961, and for projecting the 1961 community population totals forwards to 1971, 1981 and 1991. This offers the opportunity to consider the usefulness of spatial analysis tools in geographical information systems and small area population projections for population geographers. Analysis of net population change reveals that several communities continued to experience demographic decline despite repopulation overall, and that urban and rural communities had net increases in their household totals irrespective of their history of population change. This analysis provides a context for a survey of households yielding some insights into the processes underlying these demographic changes. The survey provides evidence not only of economic migration, but also of households altering their housing characteristics or household composition in connection with relocating to a rural environment. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Un pôle d'immigration dans la haute montagne pyrénéenne : l'Andorre

Andorra, a mountain immigration center. Contrasting with the depopulation trend of the whole inner Pyrenees, Andorra is an active immigration center. Its population was increased from 4 000 to 40 000 inhabitants since the Second world war, so that the agglomeration of Andorra-la-Vella - Les Escaldes - Engordany has to day a larger population than Foix, Pamiers or la Seu d'Urgell. Being free from customs and excises, Andorra became a duty-free market center and trade benefits were turned into investments for winter or summer tourism equipments. Some immigrants are retired people or second houses' buyers from affluent parts of the E.E.C., but most of them are busy in trade and services activities. The greater number comes from Spain and Spaniards presently account for 58 % of the Andorran population, and Andorra born people for 17,5 % only ; therefore local authorities and the native society are confronted with a major problem of integration of these foreigners.

An Overview of the Phenomenon of Mixed Racial Isolates in the United States

The subject of the paper is population groups of real or alleged tri-racial origin—Indian, White, and Negro. There is a review of the emergence of such groups in American history, their conflicts with public authorities, and their recognition by researchers. The past importance of separate schools as a boundary maintenance mechanism is discussed, with emphasis on the declining persistence of such schools today. The role of the church as the typical remaining group institution is noted. Mention is made of the decreasing proportion of endogamous marriages in recent times. The essentially rural nature of these racial isolates is pointed out, and the general societal trend of rural depopulation is stated to be affecting their size and continued existence. A suggested list of research needs is offered.

Population dynamics of an atoll community

Abstract A 1960 census of population for Ulithi atoll in Micronesia permits comparison with a prior enumeration conducted in 1949. During the intercensal period, a marked increase in population is noted, reversing a long-term trend of depopulation for the atoll community. Data on mortality, fertility, migration, and family structure are presented to examine changes in the population balance. The conclusions of the study lend support to a previous contention by the senior author that gonorrhrea has had a major effect on fertility levels. Since medical control of this venereal disease in the late forties, fertility rates have increased to the point that the atoll community has experienced a modest population expansion. These changes in fertility reflect an increase in the average number of children per mother and a decline in childless women, rather than a more favourable distribution of females in child-bearing ages.