Why do SHORT SCALE bass string sets have LIGHTER GAUGE than their long scale version?

[ajkula66]

In 48 years of playing bass, the best compromise between feel and tone for a short scale bass I have found are the GHS Balanced Nickel strings. They have good tension, big, round, tone, good balance of both tone and feel, string-to-string and up the neck, the E string doesn't get thumpy too soon, reasonably priced, and being nickel, after they are seated after awhile start taking on some of that organic woodiness that we all miss about "golden era" Fender flats

Good strings. A bit too dark for my liking, though. With that being said, I can understand the strong following that they have.