ABSTRACT
This chapter summarises the insights gained from the previous city reports, namely on how Cities and their officials have tried (and continue to try) to give substance to sustainable competitiveness. Competitive cities are cities with the dynamic capacity to grow and develop over time, nurturing and attracting jobs, people and skills. However, in order to do so effectively, in the medium-and long-term, competitiveness relies on social and environmental dimensions as well. Thus, for the purpose of this book, sustainable competitiveness is defined as the ability of cities to keep growing and developing over time while fostering social cohesion and environmental quality. Even in times of general economic recession and financial meltdown, social and environmental dimensions are not luxury alternatives and restrictions to growth – they are becoming increasingly integral parts of a full urban development “equation”.
