ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the economic perspectives, strengths and weaknesses of the urban regions in Central and Eastern Europe. It aims to distinguish between a European and a more national perspective. The chapter summarizes the challenges for the urban and regional system in Central and Eastern Europe, and the prospects for these regions are discussed. There are, nevertheless, several smaller urban regions, especially in Western Europe, which does not belong to the leading cluster of service cities but which do achieve a similarly good economic position in the urban ranking. In contrast to the metropolitan regions, high-tech industries are often of particular importance for the economic development of smaller urban regions. Central European urban regions are dynamic economic growth poles in their respective countries. Their economic growth is also more dynamic than in most of their Western European counterparts. But apparently they still exhibit a number of weaknesses which distinguish them from the Western European metropolitan regions.
