In a recent issue of Town Planning Review we asked this question and explored it from the perspective of US and German cases. We found that perception/awareness plays a major role when it comes to dealing with urban shrinkage.
See link below
http://online.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/abs/10.3828/tpr.2017.3
What are your experiences either informed by practice or applied research?
Looking forward to your answers!
Karina