Lacking a Playbook for Dealing with Economic Decline, Leaders of Smaller Cities Opt for Pragmatism, Flexibility

March 10, 2025

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Read time:

<5 mins
Lacking A Playbook For Dealing With Economic Decline Leaders Of Smaller Cities Opt For Pragmatism Flexibility

There is a substantial body of research on the decline of major cities like Detroit and Cleveland, but there is a gap in studies focusing on small- to medium-sized cities. In a recent study, U-M researcher Stephanie Leiser and her colleagues interviewed city managers from 21 small- and medium-sized cities to gain a deeper understanding of how they have responded to long-term population decline and the associated stresses. In this Expert Q&A, Leiser shares key insights from her research.

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