Peter Karl Kresl – författare

Plenty has been written on the competitiveness of megacities, capital cities, and regional hubs. Cities in developing countries have not yet received the same attention – this book fills that gap. An international team of expert academics have come together to present a comprehensive study of the competitiveness of cities in the developing world. Spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America, this book homes in on specific city cases and examines how they relate to the rest of the global economy. The focus is on acknowledging their unique contexts, while drawing out commonalities, and ultimately identifying ways for them to enhance their competitiveness, wellbeing, and sustainability.

This volume will be valuable reading to advanced students, researchers, and policymakers in urban and regional studies, economic geography, and economic development.

Plenty has been written on the competitiveness of megacities, capital cities, and regional hubs. Cities in developing countries have not yet received the same attention – this book fills that gap. An international team of expert academics have come together to present a comprehensive study of the competitiveness of cities in the developing world. Spanning Asia, Africa, and Latin America, this book homes in on specific city cases and examines how they relate to the rest of the global economy. The focus is on acknowledging their unique contexts, while drawing out commonalities, and ultimately identifying ways for them to enhance their competitiveness, wellbeing, and sustainability.

This volume will be valuable reading to advanced students, researchers, and policymakers in urban and regional studies, economic geography, and economic development.

The Handbook comprises five parts: methodology, continental distinctions, positioning cities, planning for the future, and urban structures. The ''methodologies'' section includes interviews, empirical and theoretical approaches whilst ''continental distinctions'' offers contributions on China, North America, Europe, Latin America and South Africa. ''Positioning'' treats cities in the international context and relates them to economic and administrative spaces whilst ''planning'' includes general strategic economic planning, as well as the experience of individual cities. Finally, the ''structures'' section refers to contextual and situational aspects of urban development.

Providing a comprehensive study of urban development and competitiveness, this Handbook will strongly appeal to students wishing to gain a deeper understanding of research methods in urban economics, urban studies and planning.

Contributors: J.A. Annema, D. Arribas-Bel, A. Battaglia, R. Boix, J.M.P. da Cunha, J. Duminy, E.H. Fry, V. Galletto, K. Kourtit, P.K. Kresl, W.F. Lever, J.L. Lezama, Q. Li, J.F. McDonald, P. Ni, P. Nijkamp, N. Odendaal, I. Orihuela, A. Otgaar, H. Priemus, S. Ronda, C. Salone, J. Sobrino, D.-G. Tremblay, J. Trullén, V. Ugalde, L. van den Berg, B. van Wee, V. Watson

Chapters offer keen insights into the methods differing urban regions have utilized to cope with their changing economic circumstances. With a global scope, the book focuses on the various significant impacts of the pandemic including effects on the employment of women and minorities, central city vitality, and the futures of small or isolated regions. Ultimately, it examines how policy makers are dealing with the prospective decline of social categories and of the vitality of their cities.

Students and academics of such disciplines as urban policy, economic geography and public policy will find the conclusions offered by this book to be imperative for the development of current research agendas. It will additionally be beneficial for policy makers working in urban and regional government bodies.

The book outlines the significant loss of competitiveness suffered by cities during the pandemic due to home working; the closure of retail, restaurant, club and cultural venues; lower tax revenues; and reduced demand for public transport. Presenting city leaders as active agents, authors evaluate the strategies that have been devised to regain and enhance the competitive position of cities. They examine case studies from across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and South America, covering key themes including tourism, education, entrepreneurship and quality of life.

City Innovation in a Time of Crisis is an essential read for students and scholars of urban studies, economic geography, public policy and development. It is also a valuable resource for city leaders due to its extensive practical applications.

Kresl conducts a unique investigation into how even the most internationally engaged cities and larger urban regions can decline in competitiveness and identifies opportunities for how they might regain it. Chapters cover measures introduced to protect populations, such as distance working, and how these created issues for central business districts, subsequently decreasing the quality of life for workers dependent on retail and hospitality sales in these areas. Using examples from Europe, North America, and Oceania, the book details the process of regaining urban competitiveness and provides a guide for policymakers on how to manage future existential threats to urban areas. Urban Competitiveness and the Post-COVID City is an invaluable resource for students and researchers of urban economics and policy. Policymakers will also find essential recommendations for public policy as well as analysis of the urban consequences of social distancing and work-from-home measures.

Much recent research in Urban Studies has concentrated on the notion of the ‘global city’ but discussion has also covered a larger set of mega cities, with populations in excess of 10 million. This analysis has begged the question of the optimal size for a city – is larger always better?

Smaller Cities explores the advantages and disadvantages of different sized cities, trying to determine their place in the global economy and hierarchy. How can smaller cities gain or retain their competitiveness in a world of large cities? In a globalized world, the nation has perhaps been diminished as an economic actor, with fiscal shortcomings and political gridlock leaving cities more or less on their own in the task of enhancing their competitiveness and improving the economic lives of their residents. This book argues that smaller cities of varying population can be important actors in competitiveness and aims to bring attention to an area often overlooked by researchers. In short, are Pittsburgh, San Diego and Austin less competitive than London and Mumbai?

This volume will be of interest to students, researchers, and city professionals who work in urban economy and urban geography.

Much recent research in Urban Studies has concentrated on the notion of the ‘global city’ but discussion has also covered a larger set of mega cities, with populations in excess of 10 million. This analysis has begged the question of the optimal size for a city – is larger always better?

Smaller Cities explores the advantages and disadvantages of different sized cities, trying to determine their place in the global economy and hierarchy. How can smaller cities gain or retain their competitiveness in a world of large cities? In a globalized world, the nation has perhaps been diminished as an economic actor, with fiscal shortcomings and political gridlock leaving cities more or less on their own in the task of enhancing their competitiveness and improving the economic lives of their residents. This book argues that smaller cities of varying population can be important actors in competitiveness and aims to bring attention to an area often overlooked by researchers. In short, are Pittsburgh, San Diego and Austin less competitive than London and Mumbai?

This volume will be of interest to students, researchers, and city professionals who work in urban economy and urban geography.

Included is a full discussion on the structure, trends and determinants of global urban development, prosperity and competitiveness, and comments on the policies and initiatives that are adopted by the most competitive cities. Chapters written by eminent scholars and researchers from organizations such as the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, World Bank and OECD analyze key problems in sustainable urban competitiveness. The research shows how global cities can improve their competitiveness and the analysis reveals that global urban competitiveness has increased overall, the highlight being emerging economy cities. The comprehensive and concise index system and valuation method, and stable and reliable data, provide an accurate reflection on many aspects of a city and its competitiveness.

Scholars and researchers in the areas of urban economics, planning, geography and regional economics will find the information invaluable, as will local authorities, decision-makers and economic planners in cities throughout the world.

Contributors include: M. Cointreau, L. Kamal-Chaoui, P.K. Kresl, C. Li, M. Li, Q. Li, K. Liu, W. Liu, P. Ni, B. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, S. Sassen, P.J. Taylor, X. Wang, J. Wei, S. Wei, J. Yang, X. Yang, A. Zhang

Whether the objective is branding, re-vitalization of the economy, beautification, development of an economic and business center, status development, or seeking distinction with the tallest building, distinctive architecture has been an essential instrument for those who manage the course of a city''s development. Since the 1870s, and the reconstruction of Chicago following the Great Fire, architecture has been affected powerfully by advances in design, technology and materials used in construction. The authors identify several key elements in such a strategic initiative, and in the penultimate chapter examine several cases of cities that have ignored one or more of these elements and have failed in their attempt.

A unique set of insights into this fascinating topic, this study will appeal to specialists in urban planning, economic geography, and architecture. Readers interested in urban development will also find its coverage accessible and enlightening.