CELSI Scientific Director and professor of economics Martin Kahanec was a guest on the public affairs programme Kontakty on Rádio Slovensko, where he discussed population ageing, migration, and the future of Slovak municipalities.

Why do some Slovak municipalities grow while others are emptying out? Is rural depopulation an inevitable demographic trend, or the outcome of concrete policy choices?

CELSI Scientific Director and professor of economics Martin Kahanec was a guest on the public affairs programme Kontakty on Rádio Slovensko, where he discussed population ageing, migration, and the future of Slovak municipalities together with demographer Branislav Bleha (Comenius University) and Jozef Božík, President of the Association of Towns and Municipalities of Slovakia (ZMOS).

In the discussion, Kahanec stressed that while population ageing is a Europe-wide phenomenon, the depopulation of specific municipalities is not inevitable and reflects significant regional differences.

“The depopulation of municipalities is the result of decisions and policies that shape local economies and quality of life. What matters are job opportunities, access to public services, infrastructure, and whether people see a future for themselves in a given place,” he noted, adding that improving quality of life and strengthening regional labour markets are key to retaining residents.

🔗 Listen to the public affairs programme Kontakty on Rádio Slovensko, hosted by Eva Sládková at: https://www.stvr.sk/radio/archiv/11380/2725817

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