POPULATION AS A FACTOR OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UPPER DANUBE, CARPATHIAN AND METROPOLITAN AREA

A growing number of researchers throughout the world are recognizing the fact that there is a strong link between population, its number and structure and the plans of sustainable development. For that reason, intending to contribute to sustainable development, improving the quality of life and poverty reduction, development strategies must never overlook the importance of the population factor. Only a study that encompasses all population aspects such as population number, its structure by sex, age, education, economic and the structure of agricultural population as well as households may be of use when considering priorities in the process of defining a development strategy. The paper is based on the results of an comparative study which focuses on the regions of Upper Danube, Carpathian and Metropolitan area. Its main goal is to indicate any potential problem related to population; problems which should, in near future, be the subject of economic and other policies such as social or demographic policy.