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In the last few years, shrinking American cities have set up new strategies to deal with urban decline. These “smart shrinkage” strategies are characterized by a desire to rightsize the city and by a critique of the growth dogma that prevails in urban policies. Sometimes considered progressive alternatives, these strategies are also criticized for their limits and ambiguities. Through a literature review, this article aims to assess these strategies. It highlights the pitfalls of the opposition between “operational” works, on the one hand, and critical analysis, on the other hand. Without denying the innovative aspect of these policies and their potential contribution to call into question the growth dogma, it advocates a better understanding of the diversity of these policies and the importance of local contexts and political choices in their analysis.