Urban shrinkage is a widespread, but very diverse and complex phenomenon. Besides wider economic and demographic changes as well as international migration flows, the features of urban shrinkage depend on intervening contextual factors on national and local level. Social, political, economic and cultural conditions of the country or a region strongly influence urban development at the local
... [Show full abstract] level. There are differences in the scope, duration and speed of shrinkage over time. At European level studies have mainly analysed large or medium-sized cities, because a large portion of them are facing significant population loss. However, based on demographic analysis it appears that prevalence and severity of population loss in Serbia is more emphasized in small towns, while the larger cities remain stable or grow. In order to explore different spatial patterns and the role of city size in urban shrinkage, a comparison is made between the dynamics of shrinking cities in Serbia and Europe. Focusing on small towns, the goal is to examine the context and the causes for different trends and dynamics of urban shrinkage.