Abstract
Using the international “shrinking city” theoretical framework and China’s Fifth and Sixth National Census data, this study conducted quantitative analyses regarding the shrinking population phenomenon at multiple geographical scales, from provincial to township, in Hunan Province in central China. From the statistically based analysis, three main types of shrinkage were identified at the county scale: “A hollowed-out labor force,” wherein the population shrinks and the economy develops slowly in low-level urbanizing areas because of labor output;” Population take-over,” wherein population outflow and the economy develop slowly in urbanizing areas affected by central cities nearby that develop rapidly; and “ Resource degradation,” wherein the economy declines in highly urbanized areas with a shrinking population. Furthermore, one case study was conducted to further reveal the details of the shrinking mechanism as well as the relevant policy responses.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsNotes
- 1.
Prefecture-level cities in the context of China refer to administrations under provincial government that govern not only urban areas and surrounding counties but also rural areas within their boundary.
- 2.
County-level cities refer to administrations under the prefectural government that governs surrounding towns and rural areas within the boundary.
References
Audirac I, Fol S, Martinez-Fernandez C (2010) Shrinking cities in a time of crisis. Berkeley Plan J 23(1):51–57. http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8956c002
Beauregard R (2007) Shrinking cities in the United States in historical perspective: a research note. The future of shrinking cities—problems, patterns and strategies of urban transformation in a global context
Beauregard RA (2009) Urban population loss in historical perspective: United States, 1820–2000. Environ Plan 41(3):514–528. https://doi.org/10.1068/a40139a
Bernt M, Haase A, Großmann K et al (2014) How does(n’t) urban shrinkage get onto the agenda? Experiences from Leipzig, Liverpool, Genoa and Bytom. Int J Urban Reg Res 38(5):1749–1766. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2427.12101
Bontje M (2001) Dealing with deconcentration: population deconcentration and planning response in polynucleated urban regions in north-west Europe. Urban Stud 38(4):769–785. https://doi.org/10.1080/00420980120035330
Camarda D, Rotondo F, Selicato F (2015) Strategies for dealing with urban shrinkage: issues and scenarios in Taranto. Eur Plan Stud 23(1):126–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820099
Freixas C, Fernandez PIM (2014) shrinking cities: a sustainability assessment of eco-urbanism strategies. In: The mediated city conference
Großmann K, Bontje M, Haase A et al (2013) Shrinking cities: notes for the further research agenda. Cities 35(4):221–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2013.07.007
Haase A, Rink D, Grossmann K et al (2014) Conceptualizing urban shrinkage. Environ Plan A 46(7):1519–1534. https://doi.org/10.1068/a46269
Häußermann H, Siebel W (1988) Die Schrumpfende Stadt und die Stadtsoziologie. In: Friedrichs J (ed) Soziologische Stadtforschung. Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, pp 78–94
Hollander JB, Németh J (2011) The bounds of smart decline: a foundational theory for planning shrinking cities. Hous Policy Debate 21(3):349–367. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2011.585164
Hollander JB, Pallagst K, Schwarz T et al (2009) Planning shrinking cities. Woking Paper, pp 1–37
Leo C, Brown W (2000) Slow growth and urban development policy. J Urban Affairs 22(2):193–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/0735-2166.00050
Mao Q, Long Y, Wu K (2015) Spatio-temporal changes of population density and exploration on urbanization pattern in China: 2000–2010. City Plan Rev 39(2):38–43. https://doi.org/10.11819/cpr20150207a
Martinez-Fernandez C, Audirac I, Fol S et al (2012a) Shrinking cities: urban challenges of globalization. Int J Urban Reg Res 36(2):213–225. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01092.x
Martinez-Fernandez C, Wu C-T, Laura K, Schatz NT et al (2012b) The shrinking mining city: urban dynamics and contested territory. Int J Urban Reg Res 36(2):245–260. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2427.2011.01094.x
Oswalt P (eds) (2005) Shrinking cities volume 1: international research. Hatje Cantz Press, Germany
Pallagst K (2005) The end of the growth machine—new requirements for regional governance in an era of shrinking cities. In: Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning’s 46th annual conference
Rieniets T (2009) Shrinking cities: causes and effects of urban population losses in the twentieth century. Nat Cult 4(3):231–254. https://doi.org/10.3167/nc.2009.040302
Savitch HV, Kantor P (2003) Urban strategies for a global era, a cross national comparison. Am Behav Sci 46(8):1002–1033. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764202250492
Schilling J, Logan J (2008) Greening the Rust Belt: a green infrastructure model for right sizing America’s shrinking cities. J Am Plan Assoc 74(4):451–466. https://doi.org/10.1080/01944360802354956
Turok I, Mykhnenko V (2007) The trajectories of European cities 1960–2005. Cities 24(3):165–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2007.01.007
Wang L, Feng Z, Yang Y et al (2014) The change of population density and its influencing factors from 2000 to 2010 in China on county scale. Acta Geogr Sin 69(12):1790–1798. https://doi.org/10.11821/dlxb201412005
Wiechmann T (2008) Errors expected—aligning urban strategy with demographic uncertainty in shrinking cities. Int Plan Stud 13(4):431–446. https://doi.org/10.1080/13563470802519097
Wiechmann T, Bontje M (2015) Responding to tough times: policy and planning strategies in shrinking cities. Eur Plan Stud 23(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.820077
Wu K, Long Y, Mao Q (2015) Featured graphic. Mushrooming Jiedaos, growing cities: an alternative perspective on urbanizing China. Environ Plan A 47(1):1–2. https://doi.org/10.1068/a140066g
Yang Y, Feng Z, Zhao Y et al (2013) Coordination between urban land expansion and population growth in China. Geogr Res 32(9):1668–1678. https://doi.org/10.11821/dlyj201309009
Zhou K, Qian F (2015) Shrinking city: on searching for urban development in non-growing scenarios. Mod Urban Res 2015(9):2–13. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1009-6000.2015.09.001
Zhou K, Qian F, Yan Y (2017a) A multi-scaled analysis of the “shrinking map” of the population in Hunan province. Geogr Res 36(2):267–280. https://doi.org/10.11821/dlyj201702006
Zhou K, Gu C, Qian F (2017b) Compact urban development in the new normal. Planners 33(1):12–17. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1006-0022.2017.01.002
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zhou, K., Yan, Y., Qian, F. (2019). A Multi-scaled Analysis of the Shrinking Population in a Region with Out-Migration: A Case Study of Hunan Province. In: Long, Y., Gao, S. (eds) Shrinking Cities in China. The Urban Book Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2646-2_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2646-2_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-13-2645-5
Online ISBN: 978-981-13-2646-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)