Spatial Disparities and Demographic Vulnerability of Small Settlements in Serbia: A Typological Framework for Place-Based Territorial Governance
Dragica Gatarić·Milena Lutovac Đaković·Milka Bubalo Živković·Snezana Vujadinovic·Neda Živak·Dragica Delić·Milos Lutovac·Bojan Đerčan
Small settlements in Serbia are confronted with long-term processes of depopulation, ageing, and migration, characterised by pronounced spatial and structural heterogeneity. This raises questions about the effectiveness of uniform development policies and underscores the need for a differentiated, place-based approach. The aim of this paper is to identify the demographic heterogeneity of small settlements (with fewer than 100 inhabitants) and to analyse its implications for decentralised territo