Scholarly record
ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC PROCESSES ON REGIONAL SUSTAINABILITY
Abstract
Environmental sustainability serves as a critical foundation for socioeconomic advancement. From a holistic viewpoint, regional sustainability relies on the interplay between environmental, social, and economic systems. While overpopulation is widely viewed as a primary threat to these systems, the challenges faced by regions experiencing population decline also serve attention. This paper examines the environmental and demographic traits of Latvia, analyzing the socioeconomic and ecological consequences of population decline. To explore this, the authors synthesize variables established in current academic literature and apply these concepts to the specific socioeconomic and environmental landscape of Latvia, commenting how theoretical considerations translate to local realities. For the purpose, logical deduction and induction as well as synthesis and abstraction were applied. The analysis of socioeconomic factors examines labor supply and shortages, dependency ratios, business dynamism, public services, and income inequality. Meanwhile, the environmental assessment focuses on biodiversity loss, soil degradation, land abandonment, and declining conservation efforts. This article focuses on characterizing the factors, which relate to socioeconomic and environmental effects of demographic changes in Latvia, rather than testing direct causal relationships. The included table outlines trends in Latvia and serves as a point for further studies on how these phenomena interact in context of population shrinkage. In summary, research reveals that population decline in Latvia largely drives socioeconomic difficulties instead of environmental ones.
Publication details
References20
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