PATTERN ANALYSIS OF URBAN PROBLEMS PROGRESSION CAUSED BY AN AGING SOCIETY AND SHRINKING POPULATION

Abstract

With a falling birthrate, an aging society, and a shrinking population, unprecedented urban difficulties related to vacant residences, financial deterioration, and facility withdrawal are progressing. Although various efforts have been undertaken to address these difficulties individually, no cross-sectional, comprehensive overview has been reported. For this study, we first categorized cities from past to present into cities with similar difficulties using indicators for respective urban problems. Next, we aggregated changes in categories of cities across the country over time. Results show several urban problem progression patterns associated with declining and aging populations. Results clarify a pattern of urban problem progression according to the aging of people and buildings, which are designated collectively as “city aging”. Results also demonstrate that most cities in Japan show patterns of progressive difficulty.