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.