ABSTRACT
In North America the central cities of major metropolitan areas have suffered various symptoms of decline for over 30 years. The population, taking advantage of the motor car, easy mortgages and good highways, has dispersed over a large area. The situation in the major British cities is different. For several decades there have been some similar trends such as the creation of low-density suburbs occupied by high-income groups leaving the core area inhabited by the working class. The situation in the large cities of continental Western Europe is different again. The decline of industry and warehousing in the core is similar to North America and Britain, but in other areas there are differences. The process of decentralisation and the decline of the core is often seen as an inevitable process. Growth and demands for more space are suggested as reasons why the city will go on expanding outwards.
