EUKN Analysis: Demographic Change
Demographic change has been an important topic in the past decade and current developments such as the economic crisis and the pension crisis have made the topic even more urgent and relevant on the European agenda. The impact of an ageing population and mass migration are felt throughout Europe’s society. Simultaneously, growing big cities and population decline (shrinking cities) will have enormous physical, social and economic implications for European urban structures. However, European countries are affected in different ways and deal differently with the challenges it poses.
Description
The analysis gives a brief overview on demographic challenges in Europe, more specific on the impact of demographic change on the urban structure. It has examines the general demographic challenges in the EU, including shrinking, ageing and urban sprawl; it identifies the trends and developments in European Member States; it will set out the European context and it will finally present a number of successful initiatives on demographic change in Europe.
It is especially the last aspect that is of great importance, as many cities struggle with the same kind of problems and challenges regarding demographic change. So, why trying to find out solutions and instruments on your own? Cities’ demographic developments seem comparable enough to make knowledge exchange a useful tool. Cities acquire inspiration through practices and activities of other cities and subsequently develop new and better initiatives to live up to the ever changing demands and integration developments.
EUKN collects these practices on demographic change and other urban issues and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and experience. We hope this dossier might be of help in the exchange of best practices, and in the development of better urban policy. More comprehensive knowledge on demographic change can be found in the EUKN e-library at www.eukn.org.