Engels, Alexander R.W. (2023) THE INFLUENCE OF AGE ON LIVEABILITY PERCEPTIONS. A qualitative study for the relation between different stadia of life, liveability perceptions and governmental legislation, in regards to demographic decline. Master thesis.
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Abstract
How do people from different stadia of life perceive their future liveability in a region that is expected to decline in population, and how do these different perceptions align to municipal and regional policies? In recent years, the Dutch national government has developed a vision regarding which regions in the Netherlands are seen as shrinking regions and anticipation regions (Rijksoverheid, 2018). As demographic decline impacts the inhabitants of a region (Leidelmeijer et al., 2014; Dieleman, 2016; Rijksoverheid, n.d.), and literature suggests different liveability standards based on age, I want to find out how people from different stadia of life perceive their future liveability. I also research how these perceptions relate to existing policies, to explore their relation and if certain characteristics could be improved. A liveability framework, based on the works from multiple academic sources, was used to explore what aspects are relevant to the concept of liveability. This framework consists of six pillars, namely survivability, environmental aspects, relations and culture, facilities and accessibility, health and wellbeing, and personal development. It distinguishes liveability aspects from one another, to be able to consider what characteristics are well perceived, or could use some improvement in consideration to demographic decline. A case study was executed in the municipality of Coevorden, as example of a municipality in an anticipation region with both a larger settlement, as well as smaller villages. Both a policy analysis, together with a first exploration towards different perceptions from multiple stadia of life were conducted. As this is an exploration, no hard statements can be made, but there were interesting findings in the qualitative data. No demographic decline was estimated by any participant, but participants from younger stadia of life reflected more openly on a possible reduction of youthful inhabitants. There are differences in liveability characteristics found by participants from different stadia of life, which are also influenced by settlement type, that need further research. Next to this, I find examples of how participants also look out for the needs from other stadia of life, suggesting that liveability is both a personal, as well as a social concept. In general, the policy themes by municipal and regional legislation were in line with the interview results. However, the lack of entertainment facilities, mainly related to youth, is the main point of improvement for future legislation. As a main cause for shrinkage is a decrease of youthful inhabitants (Gieling & Haartsen, 2017; Dieleman, 2016; Nefs et al., 2013; Rijksoverheid, n.d.), this aspects is also relevant to consider in other anticipation regions. Recommendations for further studies are found in further exploration of liveability definitions based on looking out for each other, while research should also be done towards children’s liveability and liveability in a shrinking region.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
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| Degree programme: | Society, Sustainability and Planning (MSc Socio-spatial Planning) |
| Supervisor: | Vaart, G. van der |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Nov 2023 10:53 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Nov 2023 10:53 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4426 |
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