This book examines urban growth and the dynamics that are transforming the city and city regions in the 21st century focusing specifically on the spatial aspects of this process in the "Urban Century." Forces that are driving city growth include agglomeration spillovers, concentration of innovation and entrepreneurship, diversity of information and knowledge resources, and better amenities and higher wages. These benefits produce a positive reinforcing system that attracts more people with new ideas and information, fuelling innovation, new products and services and more high-wage jobs,...

The populations of many countries in the world are becoming more culturally diverse. This spurs a growing need for an informed debate on the socio-economic implications of cultural diversity. This book offers a solid statistical and econometric perspective on this topical subject by bringing together studies from different countries in Europe and North America. The research sheds light on several consequences of cultural diversity including positive impacts on innovation, growth and entrepreneurship, as well as the negative social effects on communities. Throughout the volume, it is evident...

The worldwide interest in sustainable development has not only prompted ecological developments in policy and research in key sectors such as industry or transportation, but also in the management and assessment of new lifestyles such as healthy food consumption and sustainable use of products. In this context, agriculture is an important example because of its dual nature as both a high-tech sector producing modern mass products and also a traditional sector producing environmentally-friendly goods. Illustrated by a range of case studies from across Europe, this volume examines the interface...

This book, first published in 1985, explores the ways in which the editors and contributors predicted the urban system, shaped by emerging technologies, would look like, both nationally and internationally. The technological changes covered include automation in the secondary sector, the effects of energy price rises and threats of shortage, and substitution effects in the energy and vehicle technology areas. Social and economic factors discussed include unemployment patterns, urban activities and lifestyles and their interactions. This title will be of interest to students of urban studies.