Growing shrinking cities. Issue 8 (3rd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernandez, Beatriz; Hartt, Maxwell
• Is Part Of: Regional studies. Volume 56:Issue 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1308
• Page End: 1319
• Publication Date: 2022-08-03
• Subjects: shrinking cities -- demographic change -- pro-growth policy -- regional disparities; R00 -- R30 -- R58; Regional planning -- Periodicals; Regional planning -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 307.14
• DOI: 10.1080/00343404.2021.1975032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-3404

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Shrinking cities have been touted as an opportunity to rethink unsustainable growth-centric policies, but to what extent have they abdicated from the pro-growth urban agenda? We explore one of the most overtly growth-oriented 'solutions' to urban shrinkage: housing construction. Our nationwide analysis of Spanish cities illustrates the widespread emergence of shrinking cities following the Great Recession and the disconnect between population and housing dynamics. Our findings highlight the continued demographic decline of Spanish shrinking cities despite considerable spatial growth. This depiction of growing shrinking cities expands conceptualizations of urban shrinkage and advances discussions regarding the growth imperative in planning cultures.