Beyond the Big City: The Question of Size in Planning for Urban Sustainability

This paper develops a theory of size (distinct from scale) as a means to better understand how urban contexts shape and are shaped by various aspects of sustainability and livability. After considering the question of size in a broad conceptual way, the analysis turns to how size has been considered within urban geography. The paper then explores the opportunities and challenges for a size-based analysis of urban livability and sustainability and the questions posed by the experience of smaller cities. This discussion is a prospectus of potential areas of consideration and research on the issue of size, sustainability, and livability.