Shrinking cities on the globe: Evidence from LandScan 2000–2019

2021 ◽  
pp. 0308518X2110061
Author(s):  
Xiangfeng Meng ◽  
Zhidian Jiang ◽  
Xinyu Wang ◽  
Ying Long
Keyword(s):  
Global Scale ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Shrinking Cities ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Eastern Asia ◽  
Population Loss ◽  
Spatial Quality ◽  
Support Decision Making ◽  
Natural Cities

Shrinking cities have spread across the globe in recent decades, characterizing significant population loss, economic decline, and decay in spatial quality. To maintain global economic prosperity in the context of urban shrinkage and support decision making in the direction, it is necessary to accurately identify shrinking cities on a global scale. We utilize redefined natural city boundaries and the LandScan dataset to identify and map shrinking cities experiencing population loss on the globe. As a result, we have identified 5004 shrinking cities worldwide, with a total area of 126,930 km2 during 2000–2019. The ratio of which in number and in area is 27% and 22%, respectively. The shrinking cities are clustered and mainly located in Europe, Eastern Asia, and northeastern United States. There are 41 countries with more than 20 shrinking cities on the globe. The number of shrinking cities in China reached 679, which is the most. Among the 41 countries, the median value of the natural cities’ shrinking ratios of Iraq, Iran, Austria, South Africa, Russia, Georgia, and Belarus is >50%, indicating that the urban population loss in these countries is relatively serious. Our findings can be used to inform decision makers and urban planners to adjust the “growth-oriented” planning paradigm and adopt precise strategies, to form a healthier urban development.

scholarly journals Dimensions of Urban Blight in Emerging Southern Cities: A Case Study of Accra-Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 8399
Author(s):  
Sally Adofowaa Mireku ◽  
Zaid Abubakari ◽  
Javier Martinez
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Practices ◽  
Global South ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
City Development ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Population Loss ◽  
Land Transfer ◽  
Urban Blight ◽  
Global North

Urban blight functions inversely to city development and often leads to cities’ deterioration in terms of physical beauty and functionality. While the underlying causes of urban blight in the context of the global north are mainly known in the literature to be population loss, economic decline, deindustrialisation and suburbanisation, there is a research gap regarding the root causes of urban blight in the global south, specifically in prime areas. Given the differences in the property rights regimes and economic growth trajectories between the global north and south, the underlying reasons for urban blight cannot be assumed to be the same. This study, thus, employed a qualitative method and case study approach to ascertain in-depth contextual reasons and effects for urban blight in a prime area, East Legon, Accra-Ghana. Beyond economic reasons, the study found that socio-cultural practices of landholding and land transfer in Ghana play an essential role in how blighted properties emerge. In the quest to preserve cultural heritage/identity, successors of old family houses (the ancestral roots) do their best to stay in them without selling or redeveloping them. The findings highlight the less obvious but relevant functions that blighted properties play in the city core at the micro level of individual families in fostering social cohesion and alleviating the need to pay higher rents. Thus, in the global south, we conclude that there is a need to pay attention to the less obvious roles that so-called blighted properties perform and to move beyond the default negative perception that blighted properties are entirely problematic.

Can tourism help to revive shrinking cities? An examination of Chinese case

2021 ◽  
pp. 135481662110022
Author(s):  
Taotao Deng ◽  
Shuai Liu ◽  
Yukun Hu
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Urban Economy ◽  
Tourism Industry ◽  
Shrinking Cities ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Population Loss ◽  
Chinese Case ◽  
Economic Boom

Urban shrinkage has become a global phenomenon. Although China is still experiencing rapid urbanization, population losses arise in an increasing number of cities. As a booming industry, tourism is expected as a mean to create jobs and curb population loss. Can tourism industry contribute to revive the shrinking cities? Based on panel data of 54 shrinking cities in China, this article explores effects of tourism development on shrinking cities. The results show that there is no evidence that tourism has a significant impact on the population of the shrinking cities. However, tourism shows positive effects on these cities in terms of many aspects, including urban economy, employment, investment, and consumption. This indicates that tourism can revive shrinking cities by economic boom, rather than population growth.

scholarly journals Making sense of farmers’ demand for seed of root, tuber and banana crops: a systematic review of methods

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Pircher ◽  
Conny J. M. Almekinders
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Classification Scheme ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
The Body ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Seed Systems ◽  
Making Sense ◽  
Root Tuber ◽  
Agricultural Research And Development

AbstractA demand-driven approach is becoming increasingly central in the efforts to improve agricultural research and development. However, the question of how exactly demand is studied usually remains unstated and is rarely discussed. We therefore carried out a systematic review in order to better understand how farmers’ demand for seed in root, tuber and banana seed systems is studied. The review is based on data from a consultation with an expert panel and a structured literature search in the SCOPUS database. Screening the gathered articles resulted in 46 studies on a global scale, fitting the scope of our investigation. Through qualitative analysis and categorization of these studies, we developed a classification scheme according to the types of approaches applied in the retained studies. One group of studies explicitly articulates farmers’ preferences and choices through surveys or engagements in trials, auctions, choice experiments and interviews. Other studies implicitly articulate farmers’ demand by characterising their current use of varieties and seed. We discuss opportunities and limitations in the use of each type of study and we reflect on the body of available literature as a whole. Our conclusion is that a framework is necessary that purposefully combines the existing different methods and that it is necessary to involve stakeholders in a process where demand is articulated. Together, these two steps would characterise existing demands in a more effective and precise way, thus providing better guidance to decision-makers in their reactions pertaining to seed systems.

The Challenge of Climate Change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario J. Molina ◽  
Adolfo Plasencia
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Nobel Prize Winner ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Ozone Layer ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The Public ◽  
Continuous Release ◽  
It Education ◽  
Industrial Compounds ◽  
And Training

In this conversation, Nobel Prize winner Mario J. Molina reflects on the ethical side of science. He explains how several decades ago, together with the scientist F. Sherwood Rowland, he predicted that human activity was endangering the ozone layer. They discovered the mechanisms which could bring about the destruction of the layer due to the continuous release of industrial compounds, such as the so-called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), into the atmosphere. Professor Molina relates how the issue with the ozone layer was the first example of a problem on a truly global scale for science and, as such, had to be tackled, because without the ozone layer, life on our planet would not have evolved as we know it. Education and training are proving a great help with how the present challenge of stopping or mitigating the daunting problem of global warming should be approached. In the dialogue, different courses of action for persuading both decision-makers and the public are proposed. It is however proving rather difficult to achieve and something which, according to Professor Molina, is also related to education.

A Conceptual Model for Describing the Integration of Decision Aspect into Big Data

2022 ◽  
pp. 294-318
Author(s):  
Fatma Chiheb ◽  
Fatima Boumahdi ◽  
Hafida Bouarfa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
A Company ◽  
Support Decision Making

Big Data is an important topic for discussion and research. It has gained this importance due to the meaningful value that could be extracted from these data. The application of Big Data in the modern business allows enterprises to take faster and smarter decisions, achieving a real competitive advantage. However, a lot of Big Data projects provide disappointing results that don't address the decision-makers' needs due to many reasons. The main reason for this failure can be summarized in neglecting the study of the decision-making aspect of these projects. In light of this challenge, this study proposes the integration of decision aspect into Big Data as a solution. Therefore, this article presents three main contributions: 1) Clarify the definition of Big Data; 2) Presents BD-Da model, a conceptual model describes the levels that should be considered to develop a Big Data project aiming to solve a problem that calls a decision; 3) Describes a particular, logical, requirements-like approach that explains how a company develops a Big Data analytics project to support decision-making.

Activity-Based Methodology for Development and Analysis of Integrated DoD Architectures

2007 ◽  
pp. 85-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Ring
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Process Models ◽  
Fully Integrated ◽  
The Core ◽  
Analysis Strategies ◽  
Decision Making Processes ◽  
Integrated Architecture ◽  
Architecture Development ◽  
Support Decision Making

This chapter describes the activity-based methodology (ABM), an efficient and effective approach to-ward development and analysis of DoD integrated architectures that will enable them to align with and fully support decision-making processes and mission outcomes. ABM consists of a tool-independent disciplined approach to developing fully integrated, unambiguous, and consistent DODAF Operational, System, and Technical views in supporting both “as-is” architectures (where all current elements are known) and “to-be” architectures (where not all future elements are known). ABM enables architects to concentrate on the Art and Science of architectures—that is identifying core architecture elements, their views, how they are related together, and the resulting analysis used for decision-making purposes. ABM delivers significant architecture development productivity and quality gains by generating several DoDAF products and their elements from the core architecture elements. ABM facilitates the transition from integrated “static” architectures to executable “dynamic” process models for time-dependent assessments of complex operations and resource usage. Workflow steps for creating integrated architecture are detailed. Numerous architecture analysis strategies are presented that show the value of integrated architectures to decision makers and mission outcomes.

A Conceptual Model for Describing the Integration of Decision Aspect into Big Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-23
Author(s):  
Fatma Chiheb ◽  
Fatima Boumahdi ◽  
Hafida Bouarfa
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Big Data ◽  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Data Analytics ◽  
Big Data Analytics ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Modern Business ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
A Company ◽  
Support Decision Making

Big Data is an important topic for discussion and research. It has gained this importance due to the meaningful value that could be extracted from these data. The application of Big Data in the modern business allows enterprises to take faster and smarter decisions, achieving a real competitive advantage. However, a lot of Big Data projects provide disappointing results that don't address the decision-makers' needs due to many reasons. The main reason for this failure can be summarized in neglecting the study of the decision-making aspect of these projects. In light of this challenge, this study proposes the integration of decision aspect into Big Data as a solution. Therefore, this article presents three main contributions: 1) Clarify the definition of Big Data; 2) Presents BD-Da model, a conceptual model describes the levels that should be considered to develop a Big Data project aiming to solve a problem that calls a decision; 3) Describes a particular, logical, requirements-like approach that explains how a company develops a Big Data analytics project to support decision-making.

scholarly journals How Cognitive Biases Influence the Data Verification of Safety Indicators: A Case Study in Rail

Safety ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Burggraaf ◽  
Groeneweg ◽  
Sillem ◽  
van Gelder
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Cognitive Biases ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Verification Process ◽  
Support Decision Making ◽  
Good Quality Data

The field of safety and incident prevention is becoming more and more data based. Data can help support decision making for a more productive and safer work environment, but only if the data can be, is and should be trusted. Especially with the advance of more data collection of varying quality, checking and judging the data is an increasingly complex task. Within such tasks, cognitive biases are likely to occur, causing analysists to overestimate the quality of the data and safety experts to base their decisions on data of insufficient quality. Cognitive biases describe generic error tendencies of persons, that arise because people tend to automatically rely on their fast information processing and decision making, rather than their slow, more effortful system. This article describes five biases that were identified in the verification of a safety indicator related to train driving. Suggestions are also given on how to formalize the verification process. If decision makers want correct conclusions, safety experts need good quality data. To make sure insufficient quality data is not used for decision making, a solid verification process needs to be put in place that matches the strengths and limits of human cognition.

HISTORY, POLITICS, AND CLAIMS OF MAN-MADE GLOBAL WARMING

2009 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-271
Author(s):  
John David Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
The Political ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Scientific Support

Claims that a man-made global warming catastrophe is imminent have two major aspects: the scientific support offered for the claims, and the political proposals brought forth in response to the claims. The central questions are whether non-scientists should accept the claims themselves as true, and whether they should support the political proposals attached to them. Predictions of a coming disaster are shown to be a-historical in both the long term and the short term, to involve shifting predictions that are contrary to evidence, and to be opposed by many scientists. The political proposals to alleviate this alleged problem—especially plans by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency—are shown to offer no alternative to fossil fuels, and to portend a major economic decline and permanent losses of liberty. The anthropogenic global warming claims are largely motivated not by science, but by a desire for socialist intervention on a national and a global scale. Neither the claims to an impending climate catastrophe nor the political proposals attached to those claims should be accepted.

Xenophobia and Economic Decline: The Haitian Case, 1820-1843

1981 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert K. Lacerte
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
New Economy ◽  
Economic Structure ◽  
Forced Labor ◽  
Economic Decline ◽  
Economic Prosperity ◽  
Colonial Era ◽  
The North ◽  
Plantation Life

The international situation in which the early Haitian republic found itself between 1820 and 1843 aggravated its internal problems and precipitated its economic decline. The economic structure of the new country had been weakened by the destruction of the colonial sugar plantations during the war of liberation against France (1791-1804). It proved impossible to resurrect these in the republican era, because of the lack of capital and the unwillingness of the ex-slaves to return to plantation life. They wanted property of their own, and this insistence forced successive governments to distribute land to them. Only Henri Christophe, who ruled the North as a kingdom (1806-1820), succeeded in maintaining the old system through forced labor; an experiment which died with him. Dramatic as these changes were, however, they were not sufficient to prevent the resurgence of a new economy based on coffee; a crop which was well suited to peasant cultivation. The shift towards coffee exports had begun in the last years of the colonial era and accelerated in the years after 1804. An economy of smallholders engaged in the cultivation of coffee and provisions existing alongside the remaining plantations could have provided a modest foundation for economic growth. Alexandre Pétion, the first president of Haiti (1806-1818), had envisioned this possibility and it was one of the reasons which he gave for carrying out the first land reform in Latin America. Haiti was a major exporter of coffee in the first half of the nineteenth century, and there were a number of foreign merchants already present in the country to purchase the crop. Instead of economic prosperity, the years after 1820 witnessed an economic decline which made the first black nation virtually ungovernable after 1843 save by the rule of caudillos.

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