ABSTRACT
In the 1970s and 1980s many cities in Europe experienced a severe crisis. Their population decreased and their economic base weakened. Families left the centres of larger cities for suburban dwellings or smaller communities. Increasing congestion and inner city deterioration made cities a less attractive place. Many cities have benefited from the information revolution because they offer favourable conditions for networks of complex exchange and transactions. In the information age, face-to-face contact appears to be very important as a source of information and in the exchange of tacit knowledge. For many cities the production, trade and use of drugs are important sources of safety problems. They can generate a relatively high level of nuisance for local residents, who might decide, as a consequence, to move to other areas. Therefore, this safety problem can have direct social, spatial and economic consequences. In some cities, fear of crime is particularly influenced by youth behaviour.
