Type 5: description and recommendation

In comparison to the given population the demography of your village is situated in a medium position. The proportion between the young and elder population groups is unbalanced. The elder population groups are growing above-average, whereas the young population groups are decreasing. There are more emigrants than immigrants. The family relationships of your population are not concentrating any more the close neighbourhood, so that have to worry about the risk of empty houses.

There are two possibilities: either your village has problems in one of the two branches (economy or social life) or it is in a mediocre situation in both of them. To find out your strong and your weak points, you might try to answer the following questions:

1. Are there many unemployed people but only a few local enterprises in your village?
2. Is there a social life in your village (associations, clubs etc.)?
2a. Are there many inhabitants participating in clubs, associations etc?
2b. Are there some younger ones among them, too?

Your motto is: strengthen your strong points and remove the weak ones! If your economical results are not satisfying, you should try to remove possible problems in this area. In which way could you and the community support local enterprises? If social life is not properly developed - what could be improved, e.g. concerning clubs and associations? Is there a good youth work?

Try to find ideas how to keep local enterprises in your village and how to animate other ones to settle locally. Are there any local apprenticeships - if not, why not?

Ask local clubs and associations how to involve more young people in their activities. Show clearly to older and more traditional clubs and associations that their existence depends on recruiting young members.

Also: only stable structures are attractive to immigrants. Think about that, because there is always a risk in demographical development!

Village examples for this type: