Analysis of the Significance of Life Cycle Theory in Urban Sustainable Development - Case Study of Resource-dependent Cities

Abstract

Taking resource-dependent cities as an example, because of their single industry and strong path dependence, they could be influenced by the life cycle more strongly. So, more attention should be paid to their decline stage and upgrading. When cities are in their development stage and maturity stage which seem to be prosperous, potential crises like urban disease also exist. After years of research, how does the urban life cycle make a great difference in the development of cities had been studied thoroughly. But there is seldom application of this theory to proactively avoid the crisis of urban decline. By contrasting two pairs of cases, this paper will illustrate different problems that cities with different development pattern or orientation may encounter. Failing in recognizing the coming of decline stage and making timely transitions, Flint and Detroit paid a heavy price. Conversely Beijing succeeded in tackling its environmental pollution in development stage kept it from stepping into decline stage. Pittsburgh s success in industrial upgrading also kept it from death stage. More attention should be attached to the life cycle theory in guiding cities sustainable development, especially industrial transformation, and urban regeneration.