ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the economic and financial determinants of the quality of life in cities. It opens with an analysis of the conditions under consideration in selected cities in Central and Eastern Europe, based on which a preliminary analysis of the main economic and financial challenges and problems of smart cities is carried out. Then, in the next two sections, considerations are limited to Polish cities aspiring to be smart. In this regard, indicators based on statistical data on 16 Polish provincial cities are analyzed first. Subsequently, the analyses are based on the results of surveys identifying residents’ quality of life from the perspective of city authorities – decision-makers in the strategic development directions of urban infrastructure.
