The purpose of this book is to investigate the recent experience of developed countries concerning urban deconcentration. It consists of nine national case studies by various authors that review such trends in light of the literature on conceptual and methodological problems in studying counterurbanization. Two overview chapters are also included. "The first introduces the counterurbanization experience, documenting the 'discovery' of the rural population turnaround and reviewing the statistical evidence relating to the patterns and trends in urban deconcentration for a wide range of international contexts. The second chapter outlines the main research issues which have been raised in the counterurbanization debate, including the vexed question of the real meaning of the term and the way in which the process should be measured. The concluding chapter is designed to draw together the principal findings of the national case studies in order to outline and justify a general model of changes taking place in the degree and nature of counterurbanization." (EXCERPT) - See more at: http://www.popline.org/node/365263#sthash.Q1ZTWODa.dpuf