Lower purchasing power - fewer cars?

The car has become a very important part of our society – cars are ubiquitous and living without a car is unimaginable for many.

In addition there is the need for inidvidual mobility and self-determination. And whereas in many large cities such as Vienna more and more people abstain from having a car, in many countries people cannot even afford one.
Regarding the retail structure in most countries which shows a strong tendency towards Hypermarkets and Shopping Centers in peripheral locations a car is just a simple necessity for many people.

How strongly purchasing power and number of cars are associated shows the map below. It compares the purchasing power index per capita and the car density in Croatia.
It shows that regions with higher than average purchasing power (PPI/Inh > 100) like Zagreb, Istarska or Primorsko also have a higher car density. On the other end of the scale regions with lower car density have a lower purchasing power – e.g. regions in the east like Brodsko-Posavska.

In comparison: the Austrian average for 2007 was 512 cars per 1.000 inhabitants with Vienna bringing up the rear among the provinces (395 cars/1.000 Inh.) and Burgenland at the top (586 cars/1.000 Inh.).