Gerxhaliu: We can't make young people stay with stories about war, we need to restore their lost hope

Economist Safet Gerxhaliu tells Kosovo Online that aging and the departure of the population are affecting the entire region and that Kosovo is no exception to this problem. He points out that there is more talk about war than about prosperity in the Balkans, which is why young people in these areas do not see their future here.

“If you analyze the latest census, you’ll see that there are simply fewer people, around 200,000, and if you look at the population structure, you’ll see that the pillar of development, when it comes to young people, is no longer what it used to be. Today, the population is aging, and there are fewer young people,” our interlocutor says.

He emphasizes that the fact that the population is emigrating and that young people are leaving must be a priority for the government to address.

“We cannot force young people to stay in the Balkans if we don’t have political stability. We cannot make them build a future if they don’t have support. The fact is that in the Balkans, there is far more talk about war and conflict than about prosperity and economic development, so what else can be expected?” Gerxhaliu states.

He points out that in order for young people to stay in Kosovo, the “lost hope that better days will come” must be restored.

“But unfortunately, what has been happening lately doesn’t seem like something that can motivate young people to stay here,” Gerxhaliu concludes.