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In the new period of ups and downs in the international environment, it is necessary to seek a new endogenous impetus for the economic growth of urban agglomerations. Population agglomeration provides a new idea to explain the spatial differences in the economic growth of urban agglomerations. Thus, we ask the question, does population agglomeration affect the spatial differences in the economic growth of urban agglomerations, and how? This study first measured the spatial differences in district- and county-scale economic growth in China’s Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration from 2005 to 2020 and then constructed an empirical formula to calculate the impact of population density on the urban agglomeration’s economic growth, taking into account the roles of both intra- and inter-district and county interactions. Thus, based on the population density data extracted from nighttime lighting data, we analyzed the impact of population density on economic growth within urban agglomerations, as well as the extent of the impact of population density on economic growth when incorporating spillover effects from neighboring districts and counties. The results indicate that, firstly, the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration in China has formed a “core-periphery” development pattern, with the main urban areas of Xi’an–Xianyang and Baoji as the core and the core area gradually spreading out to the neighboring districts and counties of their cities. Secondly, population density can significantly and steadily promote the economic growth of the districts and counties within the urban agglomeration, and the population agglomeration of districts and counties with railway stations can have a stronger effect on the economic growth of these districts and counties. Third, the agglomeration of economic and demographic factors in neighboring counties has a positive spillover effect on the local economy, while the positive impact of population density on economic growth remains unchanged when it is integrated into the spillover effect of neighboring counties. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for systematically exploring the influence of population density on the economic growth of urban agglomerations but also provides a reference for local governments to formulate policies related to regional economic development and spatial territorial planning. According to the research conclusion, this study suggests that local governments can continue to promote the regional development policy of spatial agglomeration and intensive land planning, strengthen the construction of the industrial chain and road network within the urban agglomeration, and deepen the network connection between districts and counties.

The role of intellectual capital as a developmental factor has been constantly growing in both private and public sectors. World literature presents a variety of models for intellectual capital (IC) measurement, but so far IC in local government units such as counties (2nd tier local government unit in Poland) has been non-recognized. The purpose of this paper is to fill in this gap. The authors propose an original IC measurement concept developed on the basis of already existing models. The model was created following an analysis of the results of studies performed in local government units (counties) in Poland. The authors are of the opinion that the model can be used for developing IC measurement models for local government units in other countries.

The purpose of the paper is to provide the ranking of Central and Eastern European cities, based on various elements of cities' smart performance. Our analysis enables the evaluation of social, economic and environmental aspects of urban life that represent the determinants of cities' competitive profiles and consequently, the positions on the ranking lists. The research is based on the data on perceptions of citizens on different aspects of urban quality, provided by the Eurostat's Urban Audit Perception Survey. For the assessment of various hierarchically structured indicators of cities' smart performance, a multi-criteria analysis model is developed, combining the AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) for determining the relative importance of criteria and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method of ranking. The main finding of the paper implies that direct perceptions of citizens on the overall life satisfaction in the analyzed European cities are not influenced by their smart performance. The comparison of ranks obtained by the constructed multi-criteria model and perceived satisfaction of life indicates a rather weak relation.

This article reflects upon a comparative analysis of the 28 'City Deals' agreed between UK government, Scottish government and city-regional groupings in England and Scotland since 2011. The City Deals have sought to incentivise local actors to identify and prioritise 'asks' of UK and devolved governments, fund, finance and deliver infrastructure and other economic development interventions, and to reform city/city-region governance structures to 'unlock' urban growth. Our analysis is based upon 32 in-depth interviews with lead actors in the City Deals, including elected officials from local government, central government officials and policy specialists from think tanks, as well as a secondary literature review. We find that City Deals are reworking the role of the UK state internally and through changed central-local and intra-local (city-regional) relations. Regional and urban public policy is being recast as a process of deal-making founded upon territorial competition and negotiation between central national and local actors unequally endowed with information and resources, leading to highly imbalanced and inequitable outcomes across the UK. As a template for public policymaking in an emergent and decentralising context, deal-making raises substantive and unresolved issues for governance in the UK that are especially pertinent as the new Conservative government at Westminster pledges to widen and broaden this approach as a central component of its future devolution strategy and policy.

Research background: Modern cities often struggle with the problem of selecting an optimal model of development, which is adjusted to their needs and resources. A kind of response to this was the founding of the Cittaslow network, bringing together cities developing according to the slow city model. The Polish National Cittaslow Network was established in April 2007. The founders of the network were four cities from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province (Biskupiec, Bisztynek, Lidzbark Warmiński and Reszel). The aim of the Polish National Cittaslow Network is to promote and spread the idea of good life by implementing in the cities appropriate solutions in the field of environmental policy, infrastructure, quality of urban life, hospitality and social cohesion. Currently, 28 cities belong to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. These cities are joined by a common idea and common goals adopted to improve the quality of the residents' life. However, each city has a different history, tradition, natural values, and also has a different socio-economic potential. Purpose of the article: The aim of the study was to assess the differentiation of the socio-economic potential of cities belonging to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. Methods: The research covered all member cities of the network. The synthetic index was used to assess the socio-economic potential of cities. The grouping of cities was carried out using the hierarchical Ward method. Findings & Value added: Differences in the socio-economic potential of the cities which belong to the Polish National Cittaslow Network are moderate. This is confirmed by the values of the synthetic index of this potential in each of the cities as well as coefficient value of its variation. Differences between the member cities were also verified by the results of grouping. As many as 7 groups were distinguished, including 2 composed of single entities. The conclusions arising from this research are as follows. Firstly, the slow city development model should be individually adapted to the capabilities of each city or group of cities similar to each other in terms of the socio-economic potential level. Secondly, the recommendations proposed in this study can make a useful contribution to discussions on the possible implementation of the slow city model in Poland, and its adaptation by individual cities. Furthermore, the research outcome can serve as a set of recommendations for Cittaslow member cities in other countries.

European regions with a lower population density have greater structural difficulties in ensuring that the daily life of their inhabitants matches that of more populated regions. This problem persists in groups of people who present some type of disability. Soria (Spain) is one of such regions. It is considered the most depopulated region of Southern Europe. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the reality of people with disabilities in one of the provinces with a lower population density. It also seeks to explore the relationship between the perceptions and the reality of the existing structure to infer the promotions or limitations of agency. To this end, we conducted a systematic review of the existing literature, a sociogeographic study of the study context, and a mixed investigation. The results show that the greatest problem lies in the cities and towns located far away from the capital city, causing budget cutbacks and, therefore, reducing the attention to the needs of people with disabilities. However, social solidarity has increased, which is perceived as greater social inclusion for this group.

The presence and influence of peripheral elites in national political institutions is frequently handled by the press. But, oddly enough, the lack of a comprehensive vision of this issue tends to feed flashy titles alerting about the influence of some territorial groups in central institutions such as the “Scottish Raj,” the “Tartan mafia,” or the “Cosa Scotia” in London. This article aims to provide a general theoretical framework able to orient those fragmented researches. This literature review was led from May 2018 to June 2020. It presents those results in six sections. The ways in which peripheral elites get access to central institutions are analyzed in the first section. In the second section, we introduce the literature about the presence of peripheral elites in the state apparatus, before stressing the different networks representing the interests of peripheries in the city capitals in section three. Fourth, this article points out the various career orientations of peripheral elected officials. This leads us to question their policy influence in different fields. Lastly, a short section tackles the phobias provoked by the rise of peripheral elites occupying central political positions, before proposing a general framework for orienting future research on this topic.

Internal migration has replaced fertility and mortality as the primary demographic process shaping the spatial distribution of populations within countries. While a rich comparative literature has examined the intensity, composition and spatial impacts of population movement in Europe, the spatial structure of internal migration flows is less well understood. We present a flow map of internal migration flows within 38 European countries using the most recent data available. The graphic reveals the major role of national capital cities in the internal migration system, and an array of distinctive patterns of internal migration fostering population concentration in Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, and population deconcentration in Western and Southern Europe.

The aim of this paper is to bring new contributions to the analysis of efficiency and productivity in the performing arts. Firstly, we consider how the behaviour of a performing arts company can be analysed using multi-output production technology, given that these companies offer different products in terms of quantity and quality. Secondly, and to the best of our knowledge for the first time in the literature, we propose a procedure to measure the marginal costs associated with the production of performing arts firms. Moreover, this procedure can be applied to any other cultural sector successfully. To achieve our goals, we estimate a stochastic input distance function for a panel data set of 19 public municipal theatres in Warsaw over the period 2000–2012. Additionally, we calculate the technical efficiency indices for these theatres and characterize some determinants of their efficiency, paying special attention to the effect of public grants. Our findings suggest that, at the sample mean, these municipal theatres in Warsaw could have used 7% less inputs to achieve the same level of outputs. At the same time, the presence of public grants improves efficiency and, so, contributes to extending innovation and diversity. The marginal cost of a new performance is around 7149 PLN, and introducing a new title costs up to 3.33 times more than one which stages one title already established in the repertoire. And, as already highlighted in other researches, we also confirm the presence of the cost disease and the positive effect of public subsidies on efficiency and quality in the performing arts.