The population and the current economic potential are the primary social potentials.
The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the population in the post-industrial era are the most important factors in the development of a geoarea, the geoarea of the Republic of Srpska, as well. Besides the already mentioned population data in the Republic of Srpska (low count, scarcity and uneven distribution) there is also the insufficient demographic growth. Namely, the latest indicators show that the rate of natural increase of our population is close to zero. Such a negative trend in the population causes its ageing and directly affects economic development and prosperity, and in the final instance, the biological survival of the population.
A particularly pronounced feature of the population in the Republic of Srpska is migration prompted by the war (1992-1995). Of the total population in the Republic of Srpska 450,000 are the Serbian refugees. The immigration-emigration process is not yet finished within the state or with foreign states either.
The educational and qualification structure of our population is satisfactory according to numerous indicators. But, since there is always a need for better qualified professionals and that there is a growing trend of brain drain, the state will have to improve the status of these professionals in order to keep them in the country, and give particular attention to the educational system. Also, appropriate demographic measures must be undertaken in order to change the rate of natural increase, distribution of the population, migrational movements, and speed up scientific and technological development. Keeping in mind the national objectives and economic development, successfully realized measures will have a key role in the survival and overall future development of the Republic of Srpska.
The economic potential is the foundation of development and it comprises, among other, economic-administrative centres, plants, and infrastructure. The Republic of Srpska has a large number of small urban settlements, some of which are at the same time at the forefront of the economic development of certain areas (regions).
Ekonomski potencijal čini polaznu osnovu daljeg razvoja, a obuhvata
pored ostalog, privredno-administrativne centre, privredne kapacitete
i infrastrukturni sistem. Republika Srpska ima veći broj manjih
gradskih naselja, među kojima su neki istovremeno nosioci privrednog
razvoja pojedinih područja.
The structure of the economy and the existing facilities in the Republic of Srpska create a solid base for successful development. The most important place most certainly belongs to industry which is a milestone in the long-term social and economic development strategy. The industrial plants are located along two axes, partly due to the natural resources and largely due to social factors:
-northern (peri-Pannonian, extending in the west-east direction and linking the most important industrial centres (Novi Grad-Prijedor-Banja Luka-Doboj-Brcko-Bijeljina)
-eastern (Podrinje-Herzegovina) extending in the north-south direction and linking Bijeljina, Zvornik and Serb Sarajevo with Srbinje and Trebinje.
These axes of industrial development are at the same time the backbones of economic and social integration of the geoarea of the Republic of Srpska into the modern world flows. These axes of development bear most potentials for industrial development evident in the production plants, productive forces, economic, demographic and employment potentials, urban centres, infrastructure and established social relations.
