Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Right-sizing is becoming an increasingly relevant topic within the burgeoning literature on shrinking cities, specifically as a means for cities to cope with population loss. It encompasses various measures, such as demolishing vacant housing, consolidating urban development, and reusing vacant land for community gardens. Right-sizing promises to reduce financial concerns and increase quality of life. However, several studies have pointed out the limitations of its application, as it is bound by the principles of austerity. Recent research has argued for a more nuanced interpretation of the concept, as right-sizing can have differing impacts and outcomes depending on the local context. Following these recent contributions, this paper aims to deconstruct the right-sizing approach by analyzing social housing strategies in two shrinking cities in France (Le Creusot and Montluçon). The analysis shows that these two cities have been implementing strategies that include some quantitative adjustments of supply to demand. However, the strategies adopted are considerably more complex than mere quantitative adjustment and include a variety of synergistic lines of action. Thus, the aim of this paper is twofold: first, to highlight the limitations of right-sizing as an analytical concept, and second, to contribute to identifying appropriate social housing policies for shrinking cities.
Fanny et al. (Fri,) studied this question.