Danube region strategy: Arguments for a territorial capital based multilevel approach

During the last months the discussion on a strategy for the Danube Region as a new approach for a European macro-region has been intensified, predominantly within the area of Central and South-Eastern Europe. Evidently the territory of the Danube Region is characterized by a divergent group of countries concerning the process of integration and the preconditions in geographic, economic, cultural and socio-demographic terms. Besides, the region’s spatial development shows divergent trends causing increasing regional disparities. Therefore, territorial cohesion - understood as intensified functional interrelations and strategic cooperation - is jeopardized in manifold ways. Hence, the main objective of this paper is to discuss the basic features of a strategy aiming at strengthening the polycentric development on different spatial levels. We start by assuming that the development of every city (as an element of the urban system) depends on its territorial capital and relevant assets providing location based advantages regarding its competitiveness on different spatial levels. Therefore we uncover what we understand as assets driving urban development. In this context the meaning of polycentric development and the importance of polycentric structures as an asset of a city’s territorial capital is being revealed. Based on these conceptual considerations we examine some relevant features of the urban polycentric system in the Danube region and finally argue that a multilevel and evidence based approach should be evolved facing the differences in the preconditions and already existing assets of spatial development

Smart cities ranking: an effective instrument for the positioning of cities?

Because of radical economic and technological changes cities are facing growing competition for investors, tourists, qualified labour or international events over the last decades (see Begg 1999). As a consequence city rankings have experienced a remarkable boom: On the one hand the comparison of cities can support investors in their choice of location, on the other hand it can be an important guide for the cities to judge their strengths and weaknesses and to define their goals and strategies for future development and better positioning in the urban system. However, there is some evidence that the discussion of city rankings is mainly concentrated on the final ranks totally neglecting (1) the methods and indicators used (see Schönert 2003) resp. (2) its purpose and effectiveness for strategic planning aiming at the strengthening of the position to be gained. In front of this development, this paper concentrates first on the question what are the basic characteristics of national and international city rankings. Correspondingly, a selected number of city rankings are analyzed in order to identify different types of such rankings. Thereby, the number and features of the indicators used in these rankings as well as their methods of sequencing is described systematically. The sample of indicators and the complexity of the ranking approach itself constitute the base for a quality assessment of city rankings discussed within this paper. In particular, an own ranking approach ("European Smart Cities") is described. In the second part, the paper concentrates on the question how cities cope with the results and what are typical reactions of local governments and stakeholders. For providing insight into the way cities respond, it is described how they try to make use of their results to city rankings respectively how they reflect on the strengths and weaknesses revealed in the study. In this context different urban strategies for steering development and processes of learning in general, but especially with respect to urban planning and marketing, are discussed within this paper. Answering these questions the paper concludes in proposals for making city rankings a more significant and effective instrument for steering economic, social and spatial processes in cities: recommendations for researchers and analysts dealing with the design and methodology of city rankings on the one hand and for local governments and stakeholders concerning the reasonable handling of results on the other hand are formulated.Peer Reviewe

Smart cities ranking: an effective instrument for the positioning of cities?

Because of radical economic and technological changes cities are facing growing competition for investors, tourists, qualified labour or international events over the last decades (see Begg 1999). As a consequence city rankings have experienced a remarkable boom: On the one hand the comparison of cities can support investors in their choice of location, on the other hand it can be an important guide for the cities to judge their strengths and weaknesses and to define their goals and strategies for future development and better positioning in the urban system. However, there is some evidence that the discussion of city rankings is mainly concentrated on the final ranks totally neglecting (1) the methods and indicators used (see Schönert 2003) resp. (2) its purpose and effectiveness for strategic planning aiming at the strengthening of the position to be gained. In front of this development, this paper concentrates first on the question what are the basic characteristics of national and international city rankings. Correspondingly, a selected number of city rankings are analyzed in order to identify different types of such rankings. Thereby, the number and features of the indicators used in these rankings as well as their methods of sequencing is described systematically. The sample of indicators and the complexity of the ranking approach itself constitute the base for a quality assessment of city rankings discussed within this paper. In particular, an own ranking approach ("European Smart Cities") is described. In the second part, the paper concentrates on the question how cities cope with the results and what are typical reactions of local governments and stakeholders. For providing insight into the way cities respond, it is described how they try to make use of their results to city rankings respectively how they reflect on the strengths and weaknesses revealed in the study. In this context different urban strategies for steering development and processes of learning in general, but especially with respect to urban planning and marketing, are discussed within this paper. Answering these questions the paper concludes in proposals for making city rankings a more significant and effective instrument for steering economic, social and spatial processes in cities: recommendations for researchers and analysts dealing with the design and methodology of city rankings on the one hand and for local governments and stakeholders concerning the reasonable handling of results on the other hand are formulated.Peer Reviewe

Challenges of metropolitan development: strategic efforts in comparison of Barcelona and Vienna

In a globalizing economy territories –most of all large cities and urban regions– find themselves in competition with other cities and regions. Very obviously, cities which are ranked highest are challenged to become a metropolis competing with other metropolises on –at least- the European level. This means, high ranking cities should attract not only general economic functions on the interregional and national level but more specific functions like decision centres of multinational firms, international strategic and controlling institutions (private or public) in the political, economic and cultural sphere (Krätke, 1995). Besides others, specific challenges of governance emerge for strategic efforts on the urban-regional level in order to secure and increase the competitiveness of such territories. From a theoretical point, absolute advantages provided through strategic efforts on the urban-regional level, are predominantly responsible for the strengthening of its competitiveness. (Camagni, 2002; 2008) Anyhow, in this paper we concentrate on two topics: First, we discuss selected metropolitan functions and relevant impacts on spatial development. Second, we concentrate on specific strategic efforts which aim on the attraction and strengthening of metropolitan functions and competitiveness. Dealing with these topics empirically, we describe the process of metropolisation of Barcelona and Vienna and try to assess relevant strategic efforts in a comparative way.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Smart cities ranking: an effective instrument for the positioning of the cities?

Due to different reasons cities are increasingly challenged to improve their competitiveness. Different strategic efforts are discussed in planning sciences, new approaches and instruments are elaborated and applied, steering the positioning of cities in a competitive urban world. As one specific consequence city rankings have experienced a remarkable boom. However, there is some evidence that public attention of city rankings is mainly concentrated simply on the ranks themselves totally neglecting its meaning as an instrument for strategic planning. In order to elaborate this potential meaning of rankings the paper gives an overview of different types and introduces an own approach called ‘Smart City ranking’. Based on this ranking approach and corresponding experiences of different cities reacting on its dissemination in the second part the paper shows how this approach can be used as an effective instrument detecting strengths and weaknesses and improving a city’s competitiveness through relevant strategic efforts

Jerarquización de ciudades inteligentes: un instrumento efectivo para el posicionamento de las ciudades

Due to different reasons cities are increasingly challenged to improve their competitiveness. Different strategic efforts are discussed in planning sciences, new approaches and instruments are elaborated and applied, steering the positioning of cities in a competitive urban world. As one specific consequence city rankings have experienced a remarkable boom. However, there is some evidence that public attention of city rankings is mainly concentrated simply on the ranks themselves totally neglecting its meaning as an instrument for strategic planning. In order to elaborate this potential meaning of rankings the paper gives an overview of different types and introduces an own approach called ‘Smart City ranking’. Based on this ranking approach and corresponding experiences of different cities reacting on its dissemination in the second part the paper shows how this approach can be used as an effective instrument detecting strengths and weaknesses and improving a city’s competitiveness through relevant strategic efforts.Per diferents motius, les ciutats es troben cada vegada en major mesura front el repte de millorar la seva competitivitat. Diferents esforços estratègics són discutits en les ciències del planejament, nous enfocaments i instruments són elaborats i posats en pràctica, guiant el posicionament de les ciutats en un competitiu món urbà. Una conseqüència específica d’això és que la categorització de ciutats ha experimentat un augment notable. No obstant, hi ha certs indicis de que l’atenció pública respecte de la categorització de ciutats es centra principalment en les últimes posicions, oblidant completament la seva significança com instrument de planificació estratègica. Amb la finalitat de desenvolupar aquesta potencial significança de les categoritzacions, l’article fa un repàs de diferents tipus i presenta una aproximació pròpia anomenada “Smart City Ranking”. Basat en aquest enfocament a la categorització i les corresponents experiències de la reacció de diferents ciutats respecte a la seva difusió, en una segona part l’article mostra com aquesta aproximació pot ser utilitzada com instrument eficaç, reconeixent fortaleses i debilitats i millorant la competitivitat de les ciutats a través d’esforços estratègics adequats.Por diferentes motivos, las ciudades se encuentran cada vez en mayor medida ante el reto de mejorar su competitividad. Distintos esfuerzos estratégicos son discutidos en las ciencias del planeamiento, nuevos enfoques e instrumentos son elaborados y puestos en práctica, guiando el posicionamiento de las ciudades en un mundo urbano competitivo. Una consecuencia específica de ello es que la categorización de ciudades ha experimentado un auge notable. Sin embargo, hay ciertos indicios de que la atención sobre la jerarquización de ciudades se centra principalmente en las últimas posiciones, olvidando completamente su significancia como instrumento de planificación estratégica. Con el fin de desarrollar esta potencial significancia este artículo hace un repaso de distintos tipos y presenta una aproximación propia llamada “Smart City Ranking”. Basado en este enfoque a la categorización y las correspondientes experiencias de la reacción de diferentes ciudades en cuanto a su difusión, en una segunda parte el artículo muestra como esta aproximación puede ser utilizada como un instrumento eficaz, reconociendo fortalezas y debilidades y mejorando la competitividad de las ciudades a través de esfuerzos estratégicos adecuados.Peer Reviewe

Challenges of metropolitan development: strategic efforts in comparison of Barcelona and Vienna

In a globalizing economy territories –most of all large cities and urban regions– find themselves in competition with other cities and regions. Very obviously, cities which are ranked highest are challenged to become a metropolis competing with other metropolises on –at least- the European level. This means, high ranking cities should attract not only general economic functions on the interregional and national level but more specific functions like decision centres of multinational firms, international strategic and controlling institutions (private or public) in the political, economic and cultural sphere (Krätke, 1995). Besides others, specific challenges of governance emerge for strategic efforts on the urban-regional level in order to secure and increase the competitiveness of such territories. From a theoretical point, absolute advantages provided through strategic efforts on the urban-regional level, are predominantly responsible for the strengthening of its competitiveness. (Camagni, 2002; 2008) Anyhow, in this paper we concentrate on two topics: First, we discuss selected metropolitan functions and relevant impacts on spatial development. Second, we concentrate on specific strategic efforts which aim on the attraction and strengthening of metropolitan functions and competitiveness. Dealing with these topics empirically, we describe the process of metropolisation of Barcelona and Vienna and try to assess relevant strategic efforts in a comparative way.Peer Reviewe

Municipalities' understanding of the Smart City concept: An exploratory analysis in Belgium

The Smart City is a fuzzy concept, which integrates numerous characteristics, components and dimensions. These characteristics are challenged in the academic literature, especially the technocentric approach and the central position of private companies. Moreover, the lack of proper conceptualisation pushes cities to claim themselves ‘smart’. Finally, there are few rigorous analytical or statistical analyses of the concept and its application to territories. Therefore, this paper studies how Belgian municipalities understand the concept of Smart Cities in 2016. Based on the groundwork of literature on Smart Cities and the results of a survey of 113 Belgian municipalities, a typology of four understandings of the Smart City (technological, societal, comprehensive and non-existent) is elaborated. The results also show that municipalities with no understanding of the Smart City concept or with a technical understanding are mostly located in small and rural municipalities. This could be a sign of rejection of the phenomenon in this context. Conversely, medium and large-sized municipalities mostly develop a societal or comprehensive understanding. Therefore, this study highlights a dichotomy of understanding and acceptance of the concept of the Smart City between peripheral (rural and small size municipalities) and central municipalities (urban, medium and large size municipalities)