La dinámica demográfica reciente en la Sierra Morena Cordobesa
The recent demographic dynamics in the Sierra Morena of Córdoba
Autor
Luque Revuelto, Ricardo Manuel
Editor
Universidad de Málaga, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y EmpresarialesFecha
2012Materia
Sierra Morena (España)Demografía
Despoblación
Diferencias territoriales
Demography
Depopulation
Territorial differences
Córdoba (España)
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La Sierra de Córdoba constituye un ámbito espacial diferenciado en la provincia y en el
conjunto de Andalucía. Los habitantes de los espacios mariánicos son el elemento básico en la
ocupación de ese territorio, caracterizado por un marcado carácter rural. El estudio de la dinámica
demográfi ca reciente de los espacios mariánicos y las diferencias regionales que presenta constituye
el objetivo principal del presente trabajo. The Sierra de Cordoba is a distinct spatial area in the province and the whole of Andalusia.
The people of mariánicos spaces are the basic element in the occupation of that territory,
characterized by a strong rural character. The study of recent population dynamics of mariánicos
spaces and regional differences, is the main objective of this work, with trying to identify
possible inequalities and concomitants both regional and county differences.
The demographic variables orused to characterize recent developments in mariánicos
spaces are: the general evolution of the population in absolute and relative terms, crude birth
rates and mortality, total fertility rate, infant mortality and vegetative growth.
The study of the human component of the settlement will begin from the mid-twentieth
century. The starting date is justified because the 50s mark a turning point in demographic
trends that began rising from mid-nineteenth century, since different regions of the Sierra de
Cordoba will suffer an exodus of migration, unprecedented in its history, which will result in a
drastic reduction of its strength, reaching in some of them more than a half thereof.
This phenomenon was not unique to our area, but it is common in inland areas and in
the mountains of Andalusia. As we know it was motivated by a set of facts of a socioeconomic
nature-related crisis in the agricultural sector determined by the low yields, poor ownership
structure and the attraction that woult hold certain areas of immigration on the basis of new
economic incentives. The immediate circumstances that compel the exodus of the population
can relate dependence on a primary agriculture sector, mining, and poor development of the
area in relation to the rest of the country. More specifically we have to emphasize the influence
the decline a agricultural productivity compounded by the almost absolute predominance of
rainfed crops on a lower soil component, together with extensive practices and a low level
of mechanization. This acted to the detriment of the income levels of the laborers and small
landowners who were driven-forced to emigration.
On the other hand, the high natural increase recorded since the beginning of the century, except
for the parentheses of the Civil War, to the led-headed mariánicas counties towards a situation of overcrowding
of employees who had no place in farming or mining, and in decline from the previous decade.
The important migratory flow was generated in the mariánicas regions, like so many others
produced in the Spanish territory not only assumed the depopulation of large areas but also
a profound change in the relations of the population with the territory. The changes affect not
only agricultural structures but also the settled areas and habitat types, especially in the case of
permanent migration flows. The almost complete loss of the spread settlement, the reduction in
all entities of population, including the municipal, heading caused an irreparable loss in manpower
and an aging in the population structure, a situation which in practice meant the isolation of a
part of the territory and the loss of weight in the regional and provincial economy.
We can say that the fi nal step that completes the process of modernization of the population
from Córdoba mountain ton has the peculiarity that it is an acceleration produced as a
result of the effects of population aging and reduced fertility. Until the fifties there was a clear
relationship between economic development and demographic transition which were modified
by the various components of the natural movement of the population. Since the fifties the
phenomenon of migration alters the relationship between economic development and demographic
transition, reaching a demographic similar to those of more developed regions although
for some different causes more characteristic of underdeveloped areas.
In conclusion the natural dynamics of the Sierra de Cordoba may be summarized in the
period covered by the second half of the twentieth century saying that positive growth of the
fifties led to the emigration of the decades that immediately followed, while such migration
was the cause of altering the structure of age in population that fi nally resulted in a dynamic
population whose most characteristic feature was the involution of the same one.
The mountain town that had experienced the last stages of demographic transition during
much of the twentieth century debated in recent years of that century and the beginning of this
one with a burden of an exceptionally low population growth and a relatively stable migration
net resulted in a continuous flow of people out of their counties. On the other hand, a group of
foreign immigrants in increasing numbers, although hesitant to the same extent that economic
stagnation is more evident. A situation that raises more questions than answers regarding the
future evolution, composition and structure of the population, which establishes the relations of
production and determines not only the different economic exploitation but also the pattern of
settlement and an important agricultural component in landscapes as a rural environment. The
reduction in the agricultural workforce as a result of such an outfl ow and the rationalization of
farming and agricultural practices has meant in practice an abandonment of the settlement of many
mountain villages and a signifi cant loss of rural habitat, not only of buildings but also traditions and
agricultural uses that were the livelihood of an exceptionally rich traditional architecture.
Regarding the immediate future, it seems reasonable that they will not produce any news
worthy of consideration with regard to various demographic variables: low birth and death will
increase as a consequence of the aging population although life expectancy at birth will rise.
Therefore, the medium growth to long term population depends very specifically on the input
and output flows of immigrants, given that internal migration tends to stabilize, the arrival of
immigrants takes on a particular relevance in the indisputable evolution of Andalusian population,
but not as munch as in the province of Córdoba, let alone mariánicos spaces. So, all these
circumstances draw an impossible generational replacement capacity, ie a regressive or stationary
population situation in the Sierra de Córdoba, given the evolution of various demographic
variables analyzed and the already negative projections that exist for the Córdoba area.