Regional Revitalization and Social Inclusion through the Trans-formation of Industrial Cities

Abstract

This paper focuses on the transformations of post-industrial cities in response to industrial hollowing-out and population decline by analyzing initiatives that combine social inclusion efforts and small business support to resolve regional divisions and disparities. We explore several initiatives that have aimed to overcome region-specific social issues related to the process of post-industrial urban transformation. As an example, we consider the case of Turin, Italy, a city that experienced significant population and regional decline related to changes in its industrial structure. The transformation of Turin, once the corporate base of Fiat Automobiles, provides hints for facing challenges that arise from industrial hollowing-out. In this paper, we consider the nature of regional revitalization by examining community-level job creation projects, support for venture businesses, and the shift from industrial cities to those focused on tourism and social inclusion.