| This thesis explores the dual concepts of urban shrinkage and the loosely coordinated planning and policy response to the phenomenon of shrinkage called "smart decline." Through a content analysis of the Erie-Niagara Framework for Regional Growth, the document is examined for any indications that: (1) the plan's authors recognize that their region has lost and is projected to keep losing population, and (2) if they included any smart decline strategies or policies into the plan. The plan makes little mention of the possibility for continued population and job loss. Numerous smart decline keywords and phrases were nevertheless found throughout the text of the plan. However, on closer examination, it seems that the appearance of smart decline keywords and phrases was due to the overlap between some smart growth and smart decline policy goals. Due to the fundamentally different assumptions inherent in guiding the policy recommendations of these two concepts, it does not appear that a smart growth strategy can be a substitute for a smart decline strategy. |
