Time-Space Relations and the Differences Between Shrinking Regions

Firstly, although there is some agreement on the circular causality character of shrinkage, empirical research in which this character is tested is scarce. This paper will elaborate on this circular causality in an empirical way. It addresses some of the major gaps in understanding urban shrinkage. Secondly, differences in the causes of shrinkage between regions and between municipalities in those regions have received little attention. This differentiation is supposed to be caused by regional and local specificities, such as characteristics of location, employment opportunities, and quality of life. Yet, again, empirical knowledge about these differences is limited. The aims of this paper are (1) to disentangle these complex differences and causal relations in three Dutch shrinking regions over a period of 20 years (1990-2009) and (2) to examine effects of specificities on the regional differentiation of shrinkage.