Growth, Decline and Regeneration in Large Cities: A Case Study Approach (The Metropolis and Modern Life)

Growth, Decline, and Regeneration in Large Cities sheds light on why some cities prosper, others implode, and still others are able to reverse their downward trajectories. The book focuses on four major case studies of American metropolitan areas: Detroit, Boston, Minneapolis, and Austin. It explores how distinctive political and cultural forces in these cities affected economic growth or decline. Theoretical frameworks to explain economic development in urban areas are identified. The book addresses important subjects such as response to deindustrialization, disruption caused by gentrification, globalization, and the importance of human capital for economic development.

Steven G. Koven is Professor in the Department of Urban & Public Affairs at the University of Louisville.

Andrea C. Koven is Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at the University of Louisville.