Representing urban shrinkage - The importance of discourse as a frame for understanding conditions and policy

How are shrinking cities perceived by scholars, policymakers and citizens in different national contexts, and how do their discourses affect the nation's policies toward those cities? Although the interest in urban shrinkage has steadily grown among scholars worldwide during recent years, little has been written about these issues. This is the gap which the Special Issue “Urban shrinkage” presenting a cross-national comparison (Japan, US, Germany) seeks to fill. This article sets up the frame for the SI; we outline a circular relationship between conditions of shrinkage, the discourse and the design and implementation of policies to counteract challenges posed by shrinkage. We focus on six propositions with which we try to define the boundaries and limitations of the shrinking city literature. Afterwards, we present a model through which we interpret the triangular relationships of discourse, conditions and policy. Finally, we set the stage for the articles that follow.