I luoghi della cultura: i "sentieri" della competitività per Aosta città alpina

The largest part of the industrialized countries are facing a demographic change characterized by a growth in the senior part of the population compared with young or active citizens. The consequences, at regional and national level, will be evident as a consequence of a growth in the costs for pensions and health care. At the urban scale, instead, a recent research by Ietri and Kresl (2012) showed how economic consequences can be also positive, with the implementation of adequate policies. The senior population of today and of the next decades will be in fact in the average wealthier, healthier and more educated than any previous generation. At the level of an urban economy, this will have an impact in terms of a growing demand for cultural and educational activities. Also the younger part of the population is potentially interested by cultural and educational activities. This is a crucial part of the resident population, especially in the case of a medium sized city that plans to improve its attractiveness through an investment in its university seat. This is related to the case study presented in this contribution: the city of Aosta is facing the demographical changes common to the rest of the country and at the same time the implementation of new visions for the future (Pioletti, 2011). As to its demographic structure, the city is aging but is at the same time characterized by a positive migratory balance. As to the strategies for the future, Aosta plans to become a university town and to become attractive thanks to its cultural endowment. In this paper the role of young and senior citizens will be discussed in supporting the activities of sectors that are crucial for a medium sized city aiming at being attractive for tourists and residents. Standing on an ongoing research project, the case and the policies implemented in Aosta and the region will be examined in order to assess the potential for the development paths of the future.