Aspects of the demographic security of the cities of Strășeni (r. Moldova) and Zărneşti (Romania)

The aim of this study is to analyze the demographic sustainability in terms of indicators that attest to the demographic situation in two medium-sized cities. The main objectives are: comparative analysis of the demographic situation of the cities of Strășeni and Zărnești and of the determinants of demographic insecurity; identifying the forms of manifestation of the demographic insecurity through the prism of the basic demographic components, assessing the deviation of measurable demographic security indicators from optimal values, drawing conclusions on the situation of demographic security for the cities studied and proposals on overcoming, even partially, the demographic insecurity problems faced by the given localities, based on existing good practices. Demographic security as a component of social security has become a widely covered topic, both in the literature and in the public space. It aims at quantitative and qualitative transformations of demographic indicators, which endanger the human capital of certain territorial entities. The exacerbation of the demographic problem at the beginning of the 21st century is based on several objective reasons: on the one hand, socio-economic changes in several regions and states of the world have been accompanied by major changes in demographic behavior, both in the elements of state, as well as population movement; on the other hand, political, health and environmental insecurity was directly reflected in demographic security. Consequently, the issue of demographic insecurity appears on the agenda of several governments of the world's states, being considered a priority in the context of national security. The study is expected to answer some questions related to the demographic security of two medium-sized cities, located in the Republic of Moldova and România, in the context of a study of comparative human geography, in the context of their regional competitiveness.