유럽연합의 수축 스마트(Shrink Smart)연구에 대한 비교 연구:수축 도시의 도시수축현상을 중심으로

The 21st century demands significant change for cities, a transformation that stems from the economic and social decline that began in the mid-20th century. Facing economic and social decline, cities have experienced population decline, demographic shifts due to low birth rates and a rapidly aging population, declines in local industries and employment, and the obsolescence and deterioration of social infrastructure. This urban decline, coupled with socioeconomic stagnation, has led to urban shrinkage, a process of change that shrinks or diminishes core elements of urban structure and function. Recognizing the severity of the widespread urban shrinkage phenomenon in European cities, the European Union launched the “Smart Shrinkage” research project from 2009 to 2012, targeting ten cities and urban areas in seven European countries. The Smart Shrinkage research aims to move beyond the conventional, one-size-fits-all interpretation of urban shrinkage and to meticulously analyze its causes, consequences, and response strategies. This study aims to examine the causes, consequences, and response strategies of urban shrinkage, focusing on research conducted in the European Union, while also comparing it with existing theoretical aspects of urban shrinkage to derive implications.