eprintid: 3489
rev_number: 5
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/34/89
datestamp: 2021-06-30 12:49:12
lastmod: 2021-06-30 12:49:12
status_changed: 2021-06-30 12:49:12
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Wesselo, Gijs
creators_id: S3770079
creators_email: g.l.wesselo@student.rug.nl
title: Stories as catalysts for impasse?  How politicians in Ooststellingwerf hold on to growth in a region of population decline
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: public
abstract: The municipality Ooststellingwerf in Southeast-Friesland is labelled an ‘anticipation region’ by the Dutch 
national government, meaning that population decline is projected. In the municipal council, this leads to a 
dilemma: should we limit new housing development to prevent vacancy, or should we stimulate new 
housing development to counter shrinkage? The research aims to improve the understanding of various 
political problem perceptions through exploring the stories told in documentary data and conducting 
interviews with local politicians. Therefore, the presence of stories on population decline, the dominance of 
stories over time and the way politicians define their problem perception towards shrinkage are scrutinized. 
The four common policy responses to shrinkage by Hospers (2014) categorize the stories found. A mix of 
stories linked to trivializing, countering and accepting shrinkage are found, of which the latter two shift in 
dominance over time. The fourth response, utilizing shrinkage, was virtually absent. Policy 
recommendations to limit the variability affecting the shrinkage debate in Ooststellingwerf are: (1) agreeing 
on the value of demographic prognoses; (2) incorporating long-term developments more prominent in 
decision-making; and (3) presenting the shrinkage scenario as a feasible option. Further research on the 
effects of shrinkage on rural regions and the role of the COVID-19 crisis is recommended.
date: 2021
pages: 22
thesis_type: bachelor
degree_programme: TP
tutors_name: Lamker, C.W.
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Basiseenheid Planologie
tutors_email: C.W.Lamker@rug.nl
security: validuser
keywords_local: Population decline
keywords_local: Shrinkage
keywords_local: Policy response
keywords_local: Housing development
keywords_local: Acceptance
keywords_local: Storytelling
keywords_local: Stories
language_iso: en
agreed_repository: yes
date_issued: 2021-06-23
citation:   Wesselo, Gijs  (2021) Stories as catalysts for impasse? How politicians in Ooststellingwerf hold on to growth in a region of population decline.  Bachelor thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3489/1/BP%20Assignment%207%20-%20s3770079.pdf