As global urbanization enters the post-growth era, urban shrinkage has become increasingly prevalent, yet existing research often oversimplifies it as urban decline, overlooking the complexity and diversity of shrinkage processes. This study aims to systematically review global progress in shrinking cities research and reinterpret the essential characteristics and evolutionary patterns of urban shrinkage. The research employs a systematic literature review methodology, utilizing the ChatGPT-4o large language model to extract and analyze data from 183 articles, constructing an analytical framework across five dimensions: demographic-social, economic-industrial, spatial-land use, ecological-environmental, and governance-policy. The findings revealed: (1) Shrinking cities possess unique developmental logic, manifesting as complex evolutionary patterns where localized population return coexists with overall shrinkage; (2) Population flows demonstrate differentiated characteristics with out-migration of young, highly educated groups and retention of elderly, low-income populations, while some cities experience population decline coupled with sustained economic vitality; (3) Urban spatial restructuring manifests as simultaneous core decline and peripheral expansion instead of centripetal contraction alone, while abundant vacant land provides new opportunities for ecological restoration; (4) Future research should transcend simple binary frameworks, focusing on revealing the intrinsic mechanisms of localized revival, ecological equity, and multi-collaborative governance. This study unveils the knowledge structure and theoretical blind spots in shrinking cities research, providing evidence for developing more effective governance strategies for shrinking cities.
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