UDC 314(497.11 Zaječar) UDC 332.1(497.11 Zaječar) DOI: 10.2298/ZMSDN1448777D ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER REGIONAL LEVEL IN THE FUNCTION OF MITIGATING NEGATIVE DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS IN RURAL AREAS OF SERBIA: CASE STUDY OF THE DISTRICT OF ZAJEČAR1 MARIJA DROBNJAKOVIĆ Geographical institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA Đure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia E-mail:
[email protected] MARIJANA PANTIĆ Independent researcher Milana Jovanovića 21, 11030 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia E-mail:
[email protected] MARKO FILIPOVIĆ Geographical institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA Đure Jakšića 9, 11000 Belgrade, Republic of Serbia E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT: Long-term marginalization of villages has caused negative demographic trends in rural areas of Serbia, primarily through forceful de- population, unfavorable demographic structures and other structural problems. The term “extinction” is the most often related to the recent appearance of de- mographic shrinkage and economic decline of villages. According to the last population census (2011), 13 settlements without permanent inhabitants have been recorded. The fact that about 1/3 of all settlements in rural Serbia is sparse- ly inhabited (less than 20 inh/km2) indicates that scales of demographic decline impacts are yet to be seen. The Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia (2010) advocates polycentric and balanced regional development. Creation of adequate instruments to mitigate demographic decline in rural areas requires clear defi- nition of regional territorial units. Are they going to be NUTS 3 level, or func- tional urban areas, as spatially and functionally integrated areas which represent more suitable choice for addressing the issue of demographic and economic decline, or should concrete answers be looked for at the level of identified rural 1 The paper is supported by Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia (Grant 47007).