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This title was first published in 2003.Globalization and the transition to a knowledge and information society have considerably strengthened the position of cities as nerve centres of the "new economy". However, these trends have also sharpened competition between cities. The intense competition for mobile investments has meant that not only local authorities, but also national and regional governments, and even the European Commission, have had to focus their attention on urban policy and development. Yet despite the resulting economic progress, many cities are also dealing with a multitude of social problems and an emerging dual society.