Mobility and social exclusion in peripheral regions

Mobility largely depends on public services and constitutes a key factor for regional development. However, demographic and structural changes challenge public transport networks in peripheral regions and lead to economic shrinkage. This, in turn, undermines the principle of creating or maintaining equal living conditions across Germany and leads to spatial polarization. Limited mobility is closely connected to social exclusion and warrants an in-depth analysis. Our paper examines the commuting patterns of apprentices in rural Brandenburg, Germany. It is based on a survey of apprentices in tourism and the food industry. The study finds that apprentices in rural areas are confronted with public transport deficits but also apply strategies for dealing with these problems. The paper also shows how this relates to social exclusion and to current planning debates regarding co-production and digitalization in the context of public service provision.