title: European Regional Populations: Current Trends, Future Pathways, and Policy Options.
abstract: Europe is currently experiencing an ageing population and slowing population growth of both the total and working-age populations. These trends are likely to continue. Even though population ageing will affect all European regions, different regions will be affected in different ways. Even under favorable conditions, 35-40 % of all NUTS2 regions will face a labor force decline. If economic conditions are poor, some regions may continue to grow, but 55-70 % of the regions will see a labor force decline by 10 % or more. In most regions of Eastern Europe, the labor force may decrease by more than 30 %. To keep regions prosperous (maintaining competitiveness) and to avoid worse inequality (maintaining cohesion), policy-makers must find ways to cope with these challenges through new fiscal and social policies, though policies directly affecting demographic and migratory trends may also be needed.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: van der Gaag
authors.forename: Joop
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Beer
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heins