As European Capital of Culture, Liverpool's decline could reverse

Experts are looking at Manchester and Liverpool in the Shrinking Cities Project.

The event is expected to be told how Manchester's population fell by 53% between 1951 and 1981, and Liverpool's by 55%.

The project is also looking at urban regions in the United States, Russia and Germany.

The workshop will also examine how the recent renaissance in popular culture, city branding and urban regeneration has helped to stem that loss of population.

During the '80s and '90s, the reductions in the North West cities were less exaggerated, but remained steady for both cities at 15%.

Results of the project will be presented at a series of international exhibitions in Berlin, Moscow and then Liverpool and Manchester during 2004/5.

Of particular interest will be the effect of Liverpool being named European City of Culture for 2008.