Considering the Future of Post-corona Cities and Regions

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to describe the outlook of changes in the spatial order at the urban level after the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, and the direction of the review of urban policy. Cities are now in danger of depopulation, economic down-scaling, and monetary loss due to shrinking national wealth. The biggest impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is the early arrival of the urban shrinkage crisis. From now on, it will be important to create cities with increased value as social spaces where diverse human resources are connected in multiple layers, and as physical spaces where economic, living, and working zones overlap. Future urban policies will require a paradigm shift from economic growth specifications to economic contraction specifications. To that end, it is imperative to create cities where goods, money, and information are continuously metabolized through people.