<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Besides population decline, structurally weak rural areas in Austria face a new challenge related to demographic change: the increasing heterogeneity of their aging population. From the example of the so-called ‘best agers’ - comprising people aged 55 to 65 years - this contribution makes visible patterns and consequences of growing individualized spatial behaviour and spatial perception. Furthermore, contradictions between claims, wishes and expectations and actual engagement and commitment to their residential rural municipalities are being pointed out. These empirically-based facts are rounded off by considerations on the best agers’ future migration-behaviour and the challenges for spatial planning at the municipal level.</p></abstract>

Besides population decline, structurally weak rural areas in Austria face a new challenge related to demographic change: the increasing heterogeneity of their aging population. From the example of the so-called ‘best agers’ - comprising people aged 55 to 65 years - this contribution makes visible patterns and consequences of growing individualized spatial behaviour and spatial perception. Furthermore, contradictions between claims, wishes and expectations and actual engagement and commitment to their residential rural municipalities are being pointed out. These empirically-based facts are rounded off by considerations on the best agers’ future migration-behaviour and the challenges for spatial planning at the municipal level.

Aging population in change – a crucial challenge for structurally weak rural areas in Austria

Mag. Dr. Tatjana Fischer, Institute for Spatial Planning and Rural Development, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna; Peter-Jordan-Straße 82, 1190 Wien, phone 43 1 47654 5368;

European Countryside

Besides population decline, structurally weak rural areas in Austria face a new challenge related to demographic change: the increasing heterogeneity of their...

Aging population in change – a crucial challenge for structurally weak rural areas in Austria

Published Online: Feb 18, 2014

Page range: 9 - 17

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2014-0002

This content is open access.