International comparison of shrinking city policies : their accomplishments and struggles

Organizers:  

• Keiro Hattori, Professor, Ryukoku University 
• Jan Polivka, Professor, Berlin Technology University 

Speakers:

• Tomohiko Yoshida, Ritsumeikan University
• Tim Rieniets, Leibniz Universität Hannover
• Naomi Shinpo, Hyogo Prefectural University
• Tadashi Matsumoto, OECD (Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development) Head of Unit, National Urban Policy and Climate Resilience
• Angela Million, TU Berlin
• Hiroki Nakajima, University of Tokyo

Many regions in developed countries found themselves under urban shrinkage during the last decades. Today, this trend further continues in diversified patterns at both urban and rural peripheries. In the mean time, several policies to deal with shrinkage have been implemented. Thus, shrinkage management has become an established topic in urban planning. Relevant strategies are being implemented on the levels of state policies, such as the „compact city” guidelines, as well as by particular municipal project, including i.e. the reduction of the hosung stock or coordinated infrastructure adjustment. With the time, qualitative updates of the reduced settlement structures, functional stabilization and re-programming are ganing importance.

After years of implementation, this special session looks for contributions evaluating the results of projects at city levels which addressed shrinking. The presenters invited will mainly introduce about Japanese and German policies of combatting shrinkage; however, given this base, the session expects and explicitely welcomes inserts from the participants from other countries which have similar shrinking issues but different approach, thus providing the opportunity to expand the research field to further countries (cities) and also enhancing the network among researchers. The session is expecting to take an advantage of AESOP’s global network to share the information and knowledge internationally.

Keywords: Shrinking city policy