Economic, Infrastructural and Demographic Characteristics of Villages at Eastern Ormánság

Abstract

The economy of Ormánság (a region in the South West of Hungary at the Croatian border) was characterized by forms of agriculture that developed along the rivers of the land: fishing, irrigated cultivation, forestry and management of grazing animals.
The regulation of river Dráva and the elimination of collective farms, following the democratic transition, caused a major setback in the economic activity of the region, most of the inhabitants became unemployed. The infrastructure has not developed, which caused limited access to basic services and restrained employment. The recession was due to the lack of work opportunities in the villages and the high proportion of dead-end villages repressing mobility and the chances to get employed in the surrounding villages. As a result of underdeveloped infrastructure the migration from these villages is significant and the population is aging. Students from the Department of Social Studies at the University of Pécs, Faculty of Humanities, Institute of Social Relations have collected data on the economic, infrastructural and demographic characteristics of villages at Easter Ormánság. The results are discussed in this publication.