ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the distinguishing between processes of socio-demographic differentiation and their results, that are persistent, newly emerged or rearranged socio-spatial structures, it identifies and explains the characteristics and underlying dynamics of the change for the four case-study cities. The majority of local experts interviewed in all four cities considered ageing to be a major challenge for future urban development. Some of them underlined the fact that, for example, Łódź and Brno belong to the 'oldest' large cities in Poland and the Czech Republic, respectively. The qualitative research at least increased their awareness that there is a countertrend which is not only bringing population back into the inner cities but which is also changing the age and household composition of the inner-city population. East Central European inner cities are still fighting against a long-prevailing prejudice. Knowledge about the role of silent transformations of the inner-city residential structure is limited among local experts.
