Współczesne miasta. Aktualne możliwości rozwoju

The theme of the monograph is city in the following relationship: the modern world - economy - society - the system of power and management. The considerations revolve around the question on the factors determining the development possibilities of a modern city. Particular attention is given to the issue of why some cities are successful, while others - despite seemingly favourable circumstances - do not keep up with the dynamics observed in various places and areas of human activity. This publication explains the theoretical aspects of the construction and functioning of the city in relation to the laws and principles arising from the sciences such as economics and management. The issues raised relate to many aspects concerning cities, for example: development phases, their causes and consequences, spatial development of cities, metropolises, metropolisation, sustainable development, "intelligent" development, revitalization, climate change, housing, waste management, mobility and communication, costs of city functioning or the impact of globalization on city situation. The subsequent parts of the publication focus on explaining how contemporary cities are shaped, what functions, factors and resources determine their development. The issue of external effects, social capital and city costs is also raised. The assumptions of modern urban development concepts, i.e. sustainable development and the concept of "smart city" are presented. Further, the institutional economics theory framework is used to present how laws and principles regulate social relations in cities. The significance of the norms and values which are the domain of various types of institutions affecting the regulation of relations between entities, organizations, institutions and residents, property rights, transaction costs, and the public interest is discussed. The issues of the impact of globalization on the city's economy, the change of social attitudes, urban policies as an instrument used for management efficiency and cultural foundations conditioning the development of cities in a globalizing world is also raised.