ROMANIAN REVIEW OF REGIONAL STUDIES, Volume VII, Number 2, 2011 THE DEMOGRAPHIC COMPONENT IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A METROPOLIS. CASE-STUDY: IAŞI 1 CLAUDIA POPESCU 2 ABSTRACT - Several peculiarities make Iaşi an outstanding city: it is a first-rank city in the national settlement system and the capital of the historical province of Moldova, numbers over 300,000 inhabitants and holds the 2nd position in the national urban hierarchy by demographic size, and a national growth pole since 2008 (Government Decision 998/2008). In view of the above, Iaşi has a significant demographic potential, also discharging complex functions and polarizing a large influence area, being one of the pillars of urban development in Romania. The aim of this paper is to outline the urban development strategy in the light of demographic structures and evolution. The demography today in the peri-urban space shows two characteristic features, namely the urban–rural migration, on the one hand, and the dominant agricultural functionality, on the other hand, as mirrored by the structure of employment. The development–related factors are the positive natural demographic balance, low level of population ageing and supply of a large workforce, a potential well-balanced local labour market. Concluding, the provision of Iaşi integrated urban and peri-urban strategy are pointed out. Keywords: demographic evolution, urban development, catalyst factors, development strategy, Iaşi INTRODUCTION The population of Iaşi and of its peri-urban space, just as the population of the county itself, has been decreasing. The Projection of Romania’s Population by 2025, published by the National Institute for Statistics in 2004, shows that, in Iaşi County, the demographic evolution will take a downward trend, basically forecasts speaking up of fewer inhabitants in 2025 than in 2003 (775 thou. inhabitants). However, in comparison with the evolution at the county level, Iaşi appears to have some peculiarities offering long-term advantages. As a matter of fact, in most regional metropolises of Romania, the recently revigorated fertility rate was due to positive economic dynamics and employment offer in the local job-market. Although Iaşi has not indicated any economic growth comparable with other regional metropolises (Cluj-Napoca and Timişoara), yet recent evolutions look promising for a comeback liable to stimulating also fertility, hence birth-rates and natural increase. This assumption is sustained by recent demographic trends. In July 2009, there were 860 live births (by 121 fewer than in 2008), 610 deaths (by 12 fewer than in the previous year), the natural increase being +250 people (by 109 more than in 2008). But, for all the decrease compared to 2008, the birth- rate was pretty high by number of live-births, Iaşi County coming second after Bucharest City. The natural increase was positive and one of the highest in Romania while in many other counties (16 out of 41) the record was negative (Iaşi County Directorate of Statistics, Press Report No. 22/2009). Several peculiarities make Iaşi an outstanding city: it is a first-rank city in the national settlement system and the capital of the historical province of Moldavia, numbers over 300,000 inhabitants and holds the 2nd position in the national urban hierarchy by demographic size, and a national growth pole since 2008 (Government Decision 998/2008). In view of the above, Iaşi has a significant demographic potential, also discharging complex functions and polarizing a large influence area, being one of the pillars of urban development in Romania. The national increase pole, recently 1 This article is part of the contract Master Plan of the Iaşi Municipality funded by the Local Council. 2 PhD, Professor at the Academy of Economic Studies Bucharest, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Geography, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania. E-mail: cldpopescu@yahoo.com