Forces Shaping Urban Europe

The paper describes seven major forces which are currently affecting the spatial structure of urban Europe. Globalisation of the world economy has emphasised comparative advantage leading to the deindustrialisation of many older cities and the emergence of a very select group of Eurocities. Changes in east-central Europe will provide a new stimulus to the growth of capital and second order cities in which new investment will be concentrated. The urban impact of the shift to the informational sector is twofold: major capitals will intensify their dominance but at a lower level of function there will be dispersal. Technological innovations in transport and communications are likely to lead to more polycentric cities. Lastly, the impacts on European cities of urban marketing and socio-demographic changes are described.