Abstract
Statistics show that more than half of Europe’s metropolitan population lives in polycentric metropolitan regions. This paper explores the state of the art in research on those regions. The discussion is structured according to the issues raised by Kloosterman and Musterd in their 2001 research agenda: spatial form; governance; functional relationships and economy; identity and respresentation; and, the question how these issues relate to the performance of polycentric metropolitan regions. It is concluded that much research effort the last decade has been devoted to clarifying conceptual issues, which is normal for the agenda-setting phase. This leaves many of the issues to be empirically explored, not the least their interrelationships. This will require the adjusting of many urban theories developed with the outdated monocentric city in mind in order to fit the new spatial reality of polycentric metropolitan regions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Polyzentrale Metropolregionen |
| Editors | Rainer Danielzyk, Angelika Münter, Thorsten Wiechmann |
| Place of Publication | Lemgo, Germany |
| Publisher | Rohn |
| Pages | 122-138 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-3-939486-83-1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2016 |
