ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents some closing thoughts on the concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book explores the political-economic context of city-regions, as it shapes scope and practices of their governance. The spatial structure of the population, and the underlying differences in political views and expectations from their places, vary, determined by identity and history, as found in Europe, or socio-economic and racial parameters, as so important in North America. The actual and perceived role and position of city-regions in this complex power field has varied in interpretations and conceptualisations. Cities are considered the natural centres of a wider catchment area, just as conceptualised by Christaller in the 1930s. While sub-urbanisation is recognised as a current challenge, it is controlled by generally accepted tight regulation. Finally, the fourth quadrant, competitive disembedded, describes a scenario that combines relatively low exposure to globalisation with a high degree of state regulation.
