Urbanization and City Planning

Urban shrinkage refers to the sustained loss of population, economic activity, and built-environment vitality in cities — a pattern especially pronounced in post-socialist regions of Central and Eastern Europe, where deindustrialization and political transition accelerated decline after 1989. Researchers in this area examine how cities govern vacant land, manage contracting infrastructure, and respond to deepening socio-spatial inequalities as wealthier residents migrate to suburban peripheries while inner cores hollow out. A central tension in the literature concerns whether shrinking cities should plan for continued contraction — accepting a smaller, more efficient urban footprint — or invest in strategies to attract new residents and reverse demographic trends. Open questions include how reurbanization dynamics unfold under fiscal austerity, and what forms of local governance are best equipped to translate population loss into an opportunity for more equitable and sustainable urban reorganization.

Works

148,132

Total citations

539,787

Keywords

Shrinking CitiesUrban DeclinePost-Socialist UrbanismSocio-Spatial DisparitiesVacant Land ManagementSuburbanization