Approach, Aims and Research Questions

Our research places shrinking cities in a global perspective, setting the context for in-depth case studies in selected cities and considering specific social, economic, environmental, cultural and land-use issues. We have observed that, especially in the US, urban planning often concentrates on either managing urban growth, or tackling redevelopment in a fragmented (not a regional) way—this despite the fact that shrinkage often occurs throughout an entire metropolitan region. Additionally, the shrinking cities phenomenon has until now been overlooked in international comparative research. In this regard, the information exchange provided by our project will not only be vital in redefining regional governance within the US, but also for the other countries included in our comparative research. In addition to various metropolitan areas of the US, we will incorporate experiences and case studies from Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, United Kingdom, South Korea and Australia.

 The project has the following objectives: 

• to develop a strategic framework for discussion of the shrinking cities phenomenon based on key research questions;

• to establish a network of experts (research and practice) for the exchange of information and feedback on the shrinking cities phenomenon;

• to find and evaluate (through a series of case studies) successful patterns of revitalization or strategic models that can be generalized and applied to other regions;

• to communicate our findings to policy-makers around the world.

 The shrinking cities project group has established an internal Web site where weekly project discussions take place. Preliminary research questions currently under discussion by the group are:

1.   What are the different effects of city shrinkage on demographics, economics, social life, and urban form?

2.   What urban and regional policies, programs and strategies have been successful in addressing the problem of shrinking cities?

3.   What are the respective roles of public and private initiatives? How can they be coordinated? Who are the key players in the redevelopment process of shrinking cities?

4.   What are the key factors linking globalization and city shrinkage? Can successful approaches be generalized, or are they locally/regionally specific?

5.   Which assumptions, concepts, values and practices of planning and development need revision in view of the shrinking cities phenomena? Is there a need for a new vision and a shift in paradigm for urban and regional planning and growth?

6.   What are the policy implications of shrinking cities for urban and regional development? What are the respective roles of local, regional and national policies and programs?

7.   Globalization and sustainable communities, sustainable growth and possibilities of early warning systems?