Urban decline and the future of American cities: Katherine Bradbury, Anthony Downs, and Kenneth Small, The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036, U.S.A., 1982, pp 309, $10.95.

Abstract

This study is concerned with the current urban decline in the United States. Urban decline is first defined and described and some possible causes are outlined. Various alternative theories of why the decline occurs are then tested against data from 153 cities with populations of over 100000 for the years 1960 to 1975. Consideration is also given to alternative policies to restore cities to health and to counteract the effects of urban decline. In addition some projections of future trends with regard to U.S. cities are presented. Cleveland is used as a case study to illustrate the possible effectiveness of policies to counteract urban decline.