Map B1‐3: Population density in Alpine municipalities (inhabitants per km²).
Chapter B – Driving Forces of Mobility and Transport Region Inhabitants (2005) Area [km 2 ] Population density [inhabitants/km²] Area of permanent settlement [km 2 ] Population density [inhabitants/km²] 1 2 3 2/3 4 2/4 Tirol 692,281 12,648 54.7 1,542 449.0 Vorarlberg 363,237 2,601 139.7 621 583.0 Salzburg* 524,400 7,154 73.3 1,540 340.5 Styria* 1,183,303 16,392 72.2 4,948 239.1 Germany – Area of the Alpine Convention 1,473,881 11,072 133.1 5,650 260.9 Autonomous Province of Bolzano/Bozen 477,067 7,400 64.5 612 779.5 Switzerland – Area of the Alpine Convention 1,827,754 24,862 73.5 3,475 525.8 Tab. B1‐4: Population density in some Alpine regions [Source: Salzburg (Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung 2004), Vorarlberg (BMVIT 2005), Styria (Amt der Steirischen Landesregierung 2001), Tirol (Amt der Tiroler Landesregierung 2004), Bolzano/Bozen (Autonome Provinz Bozen-Südtirol 2004), DE (LfStaD 2004 ), CH (FSO 1985)]. * belongs partially to the AC area. B1.3 Migration For about 30 years the whole Alpine region registered a positive migration balance (Bätzing 1996 and 2003, Birkenhauer 2002). Since the 1980s the migration process has mainly been concentrated on the larger cities and their surroundings (Bähr 2004, Herfert 2001). This process concerns the cities within the Alpine arc as well as the large urban areas at the fringe of the <strong>Alps</strong> (Milano, München, Wien, Lyon) (Perlik 1998, Perlik & Debarbieux 2001). As a consequence of the economic disparities between urban and rural areas and of the improved infrastructure services in the last decades, a rising internal migration within the <strong>Alps</strong>, comparable to non-mountainous regions, was recorded. Periurbanisation and the development of commuter cities are restricted to favourable locations situated close to rural or urban centres. Accordingly the striking shift between peripheral areas and dynamic, booming centres has led to structural challenges concerning demographic, social and economical development as well as the regional volume of traffic (Perlik & Debarbieux 2001, Birkenhauer 2002). Generally, the rural areas located close to the large cities at the Alpine fringe, especially in Switzerland and Bavaria at the northern border and all southern borders of the Alpine arc, have the highest positive migration balance. These locations are very attractive for working people (commuters). Moreover, these Alpine landscapes (Tirol, Oberbayern and surroundings of Alpine lakes) attract older people, who have chosen these locations for their retirement (StMWIVT 2004, INSEE 2001). In contrast to these attractive areas, certain peripheral Alpine regions close to the main Alpine chain with low population density and far from the large valleys suffer from population decrease (e.g. Italian <strong>Alps</strong>) (Varotto 2004). The development of migration in the 1990s shows a relatively heterogeneous structure (Map B1‐4). A more negative migration balance can be observed in the internal areas, while the areas near the borders have registered a positive migration rate. In the French <strong>Alps</strong> there were only small changes and in comparison with other Alpine regions the migration rates turned out to be stable, as municipalities have few inhabitants and therefore can show low absolute but high relative changes. While almost all municipalities in the German <strong>Alps</strong> show a high positive migration balance, many Austrian municipalities in most of the federal states suffer from population decrease. Following the significant restructuring of the local industries in Obersteiermark, the northern Alpine districts of Mürzzuschlag, Bruck an der Mur and Leoben were hit by a deep crisis (Regionalmanagement Obersteiermark Ost 2000). The district of Leoben, for example, had to face a population decrease of 15% between 1981 and 2001. Only those municipalities situated close to the larger cities of Innsbruck, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Wien were not affected by the population decrease. 43