• Journal of the Economic Geographical Society of Korea
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.60-75
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• 2015

The Ruhr area in the Northwestern Germany grew rapidly from the 1850s based on coal mining and iron and steel industries, playing a key role as an engine of industrial growth. Since the 1950s, however, the area has been experiencing a serious economic crisis as the traditional industries declined. The crisis was comprised of increasing unemployment and abandoned industrial lands and facilities. Oberhausen and Gelsenkirhen are typical cities of the Ruhr, characterized by such economic crisis. Oberhausen attempted to solve the problems by developing a large leisure town, composed of a sopping mall, restaurants, and other arts and cultural activities, on a former steel mill site. Gelsenkirhen, on the other hand, went on to promote renewable energy industries, business incubators, and energy-saving housing complexes. This paper analyses the processes and outcomes of urban revitalization policies of the two cities, based on the path dependence theory, and draws theoretical and policy implications.