From unity to the present - spatial aspects of population development in Tuscany seen on maps

Regional development of any kind is always dependent on multitude of ‘variables’ (e.g. ISTAT, 1989; Papi 1979; Andreoli, 1989). However, there are variables that are essential for sustainable economic and regional ‘de­ velopment’ or ‘underdevelopment’ and the most important of these is quite naturally population (see Tellarini 1992, p. 198). Consequently most devel­ opment programmes aim at ‘enhancing’ the conditions where people live or in the case of serious out-migration try to look for ways of ‘stopping’ or at least significantly reducing the level of out-migration from a specific region.