Shrinking Smartly and Sustainably

Economic developers are typically focused on supporting economic growth, so we don’t often like to discuss the reality that many of our communities are actually shrinking, not growing.  So, for many of us, we need to thinking about strategies that support smart and sustainable shrinkage in our communities.  If you’re facing this situation, I recommend a new study, Shrinking Smartly and Sustainably, from the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The report notes that, as a result of demographic shifts, a large share of OECD countries are shrinking in populations.  Meanwhile, many regions in the US and elsewhere, especially in smaller cities and rural areas, are also shrinking.  The report includes some useful case studies and policy recommendations, many of which represent simple common sense.  For example, shrinking places need to be more open to regional collaborations as a means to save money and maintain service quality in areas such as policing and emergency services.  Leaders should also embrace policies that combine adaptation and mitigation, i.e. linking new forms of service delivery to population decline trends.  Shrinking places will also see aging of the local population.  As such, investments in age-friendly places and programs, such as expanded mobility services, more compact development patterns, and inclusive public spaces, should be a priority.