Former Socialist regions in Europe and Central Asia have historically suffered the most from population decline and deindustrialization . East German cities , as well as former Yugoslavian and Soviet territories , were significantly affected by the weak economic situation they were left in after the fall of socialism . The reunification of European countries yielded both benefits and drawbacks . German cities like Leipzig and Dresden , for example , experienced a drastic population decline as many people emigrated to western cities like Berlin . Hamburg in particular experienced a population boom with record production yields in 1991 , after the unification of Germany . Conversely , Leipzig and Dresden suffered from a failing economy and a neglected infrastructure . These cities were built to support a much larger population . However , both Dresden and Leipzig are now growing again , largely at the expense of smaller cities and rural areas . Shrinking cities in the United States face different issues , with much of the population migrating out of cities to other states for better economic opportunities and safer conditions . Advanced capitalist countries generally have a larger population , so this shift is not as dangerous as it is to post-socialist countries . The United States also has more firms willing to rehabilitate shrinking cities and invest in revitalization efforts . For example , after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco in 1989 , the dynamics between the city and its residents provoked change and plans achieved visible improvements in the city . By contrast , cities in Germany have not gotten the same attention . Urban planning projects take a long time to be approved and established . As of now , Leipzig is taking steps toward making the city more nature-oriented and ' green ' so that the population can be first stabilized , and then the country can focus on drawing the population back into the city
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Shrinking cities