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Regenerierung schrumpfender Städte – Strategien in Ostdeutschland International Economical Forum „The Golden Ring“Ivanovo, Russia, 7./8. September 2012

Dr. Manfred Kühn

Regeneration of shrinking cities - Strategies in Eastern Germany

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Growing and shrinking cities in Europe

Source: Turok; Mykhnenko 2006:11

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Growing and shrinking cities in Germany

Source: BBR 2005, period: 1997-2003

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Urban Regeneration – obstacles for change

Obstacles in de-industrialised cities and regions:Hemmnisse in deindustrialisierten Städten und Regionen

Low diversification in economy: because of a former mono-structureGeringe Diversifizierung der Wirtschaft

Few small/family firms and independent traders: because of dominance of big companies and dependent workersWenige kleine Familienbetriebe

Low qualification of human labour (education)Geringe Qualifikation der Arbeitskräfte

Old economical/political elites: conserving old structures, hindering innovationsAlte Industrie-Eliten

Negative images: hinder new investors, immigrants and tourists to come from centersNegative Images

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Urban Regeneration – „management of change“

Reurbanisation

New inhabiants (housing)

Source: van den Berg et al. 1982

Restructuring

New jobs (working)Revitalization

New land-uses (physical)

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Source: Kühn/Liebmann 2012

Shrinkage and Regeneration – different pathways

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Bitterfeld: From Chemical Industry to Solar Valley

since 2001: solar industry settles: production of solar cells (Q-cells SE)

in solar industries: 3.000 new jobs (Germans „Solar valley“)

2012: Q-cells insolvent, buyed by a south corean company (Hanwha)

future of jobs is uncertain (globalisation, competition)

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Görlitz: culture-led regeneration

European Capital of Culture 2010

2006: application, supported by politicians and citiziens

4/2006: failure of application (winners: Essen, Pécs, Istanbul)

today: discussions about culture-led regeneration;

Future: „Pensionopolis“: housing of senior citiziens

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Greifswald: University town

Strategies of urban regeneration since 1995: university and sciences, culture and tourism

Growth of the university: from 3.200 students (1990) to 12.300 students (today)

High qualitity of education and research: knowledge-based economy (e.g. medical technology)

Today: Germanys youngest city

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3. Conclusions

1. De-industrialised towns and regions have a lot of obstacles for urban regeneration: low diversification, few small/family firms, low qualification of labour, old economical/political elites, negative images

2. Post-socialist transformation In East German towns: different pathways between on-going shrinkage and successful regeneration

3. Just a few examples of re-industrialised towns in East Germany: vulnerable by globalisation

4. Post-industrial services: culture/tourism/sports is a perspective for historical towns (but better conditions in large cities and metropolises)

5. Qualification and education are key factors for the regeneration of shrinking cities (schools, universities, research and development, technology)

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Thank youfor your attention!

Dr. Manfred KühnLeibniz-Institute for Regional development and Structural planningFlakenstr. 28-31D- 15537 ErknerTel: +493362- 793238Fax: +493362- 793111Mail: kuehnm@irs-net.de