One of the most significant trends observed in the Alps is the polarization between marginalization and urbanization → As a result of structural change, younger people tend to move away, which means that the region is faced with ageing, de-population and isolation (brain-drain) → To mitigate demo-graphic imbalances and polarization trends, which tend to undermine economic development, integrated strategies and better coordination of sectorial policies are required → spatial development is dedicated to act as such a cross-sectoral and coordinating approach.
→ go to the list of hypotheses