Population Policy: State and Expectations

Abstract

Population policy is a requirement and demand of the times we are living in. Serbia’s response to the problems of demographic development is based on numerous adopted documents of strategic type regarding the policy towards population fertility, mortality and population ageing. Their adoption, however, represents only the first step. A good first step, it seems. All important resources of the population policy are recognized in the strategies. Numerous measures and activities have been stated, many worked out. A multi-sector approach has been accepted, defined and coordinated in their realization. However, the realization of expected results will greatly depend on the operationalization of proposed measures and activities and of course, their putting into effect. On the contrary, in the strategic document which the state adopted towards migrations, there has not even been an attempt to find solutions regarding a more complete political response towards internal and external migrations. What is the least necessary is carrying out measures and activities in order to mitigate problems which arise from a disturbed spatial population distribution and population drain. The time factor in population policy is especially important because, on the one hand, accomplishment of positive effects and mitigation of demographic disturbances requires time and, on the other hand, any delay of changes worsens the demographic basis and increases the strength of its inertness.