Growth Centres in the European Urban System

Abstract

The authors present a review of urban systems research with particular reference to Europe. Chapter 1 is an introductory overview of world urban systems research. Chapter 2 sets forth the objectives of this study including an examination of whether the clean break hypothesis (end of the historical rural-urban flow of population) can be applied to the present situation in Europe. In Chapter 3 problems of area definition data availability and comparison for the European countries in the study are discussed. In Chapters 4 and 5 the main aspects of urban growth and change in Europe are analyzed; in Chapter 6 the economic structure of selected urban systems is analyzed. In Chapter 7 some conclusions concerning European urban systems are presented