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1

Both external and internal factors as an explanation of depopulation of cities on the area of Poland

100%

Kantor-Pietraga I.

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

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2014

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vol. 2

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issue 3

56-64

EN

The aim of this paper is an attempt of explanation basic factors of depopulation in case of cities in Poland in the 20st and in the beginning of 21st century. Author takes into consideration only large urban centers with population more than 50 thousands inhabitants. Population changes are described according to historical periods: 1900-1946 (including World War II), postwar period (1946-1989) and period socio-economic and political changes in Poland (1990-2010). A key question is basic thesis that different determinants of depopulation have two sources: internal as well as external ones. Some of them arise only in defined periods and social-economic conditions. The most important have been underlined in this paper. It has been highlighted that is visible different between simply depopulation of cities as consequence of military operations, for example and contemporary urban shrinkage as an effect of compound social-economic background. Paper gives some reflections on different possibilities for defense of cities not only against consequences of the second demographic transition but also functional changes, especially in case of larger post-industrial centers. Important question that have been underlined in paper is problem of urban shrinkage as contemporary dimension of depopulation. Presented information clearly shows that in demographic terms process of contemporary shrinkage is comparable with urban demographic decline of the WW2 period.

2

URBAN SHRINKAGE AND REGENERATION OF AN OLD INDUSTRIAL CITY: THE CASE OF WAŁBRZYCH IN POLAND

88%

Jaroszewska E.

Quaestiones Geographicae

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2019

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vol. 38

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issue 2

75-90

EN

The industry which was a driving force of the economy and contributed to the population growth in many cities for decades became later the source of their problems. The crisis of the activity of old industrial cities creating the economic base (especially of the traditional industry), provoked by the deindustrialisation process and in post-socialist countries additionally by the “shock” of the economic transformation, caused long-lasting and unfavourable changes in many areas. It resulted in the present process of shrinkage of old industrial cities in demographic, economic, social aspects as well as spatial ones (Bontje 2004; Oswalt 2005; Turok, Mykhnenko 2007; Pallagst et al. 2009; Cunningham-Sabot et al. 2010; Bontje, Musterd 2012; Hospers 2012, 2014; Haase et al. 2013; Pallagst et al. 2014; Stryjakiewicz 2014; Runge et al. 2018). This process can take a different course in different socio-economic patterns depending on the geographical situation and the time of observation. However, it leads to unfavourable results in each place, first of all to a decrease in the number of inhabitants. The aim of the article is twofold: (1) the identification and analysis of the process of urban shrinkage of Wałbrzych city as well as (2) the examination of different regeneration strategies adopted to mitigate negative effects of urban shrinkage. It is particularly important to understand this process and results of the adopted strategies especially in the context of the future development of this city which according to demographic forecasts will be shrinking in the long run.

3

Urban shrinkage and socio-economic segregation in medium-sized cities: The case of Schwerin (Germany)

88%

Huntington D.

Quaestiones Geographicae

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2021

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vol. 40

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issue 4

29-46

EN

Although past studies have found that processes of urban shrinkage may act as a catalyst for socio-economic segregation, these relationships remain underexplored outside the context of large cities and capitals. Moreover, cities at lower-tiers of the urban hierarchy in post-socialist Europe have been doubly excluded from the critical discourse on the socio-spatial effects of shrinkage. Hence, this article examines how shrinkage affects socio-economic segregation in the medium-sized post-socialist city of Schwerin, employing segregation indices to assess levels of spatial unevenness and location quotients to map intra-urban patterns of vulnerable population groups over time. Results indicate processes of shrinkage may exacerbate socio-economic segregation in medium-sized cities and that the spatial heterogeneity of shrinkage intersects with uneven distributions of affluence and poverty. However, suggesting that legacies of state socialism shape contemporary socio-spatial change, segregation in Schwerin is strongly conditioned by its socialist-era housing estates, which are generally characterised by the highest rates of population decline, vacancy, and vulnerable groups.

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2 Quaestiones Geographicae

1 Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

1 Huntington D.

1 Jaroszewska E.

1 Kantor-Pietraga I.

1 2021

1 2019

1 2014

Both external and internal factors as an explanation of depopulation of cities on the area of Poland

URBAN SHRINKAGE AND REGENERATION OF AN OLD INDUSTRIAL CITY: THE CASE OF WAŁBRZYCH IN POLAND

Urban shrinkage and socio-economic segregation in medium-sized cities: The case of Schwerin (Germany)