Stockholm is a small metropolis in world scale with less than 1,5 million inhabitants in the whole metropolitan area. It has, however, grown rapidly and has doubled the built-up area in a few decades. New dwelling districts, industrial parks, an underground system, motorways and bridges have been constructed and built in the same time as a complete reshaping of the city core has taken place. In accordance with swedish tradition the municipal authorities have made up the plans, bought or expropriated the ground, conducted the implementation and co-ordinated the activities of private investors, co-operative and municipal housing companies. The process was here as in other parts of the industrialized world rather successful during the 50's and 60's but lost much of its impetus in the 70's. The fruitful amalgamation of the social democrat's welfare state ideas and the private firms' striving for effectiveness and profits was impeached by an increasing public opinion against large cities, economic growth, environmental damages and energy waste. Together with a trend break in migration, the energy price shock and beginning structural crises in the swedish industry this started a period of uncertainty in city and regional planning and a number of experiments in public participation. After this decade of muddling through, it is now time for revival of the firm decisiveness of the 60's but with full acceptance of the limited economic resources. For the covering abstract of this volume see irrd 257863. For covering abstracts of other volumes see irrd 257174, 257182, 257202, 257235, 257267 and 257835.
Abstract