Author(s)

N.L.S. Jacobsen

Abstract

In their book Urban Future 21, Peter Hall and Ulrich Pfeiffer [6] state that \“Statistical evidence is very clear: Throughout the world, over the last century, cities have been decentralising.” Professionals of different fields involved in urban research and planning will confirm this statement. However, we must now ask: Will this always be true? And is there any evidence of a different development? Following the population development of his hometown, Stavanger confirms the statement of Hall and Pfeiffer in the period from 1960 until 1990. While the entire urban area has a growing population, the nine most central zones with a population of 53 000 persons in 1960, are down to 32,000 persons in 1990, with a decrease of 10 – 20 % each decade. However, in the following period 1990 – 2000 the development ha

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