Title page -- Contents -- Preface -- Introduction -- Cities and networks -- Polycentric urban regions -- Polycentric urban regions on the policy agenda -- Intercity relationships in theory -- Research aims and questions -- Outline of the thesis -- Polycentric urban regions and the quest for synergy: Is a network of cities more than the sum of the parts? -- Introduction -- Synergy in networks -- Synergy in polycentric urban regions -- The Randstad: Is it more than the sum of the parts? -- Co-operation or horizontal synergy in the Randstad -- Complementarity or vertical synergy in the Randstad -- Conclusions -- Clones or complements? The division of labour between the main cities of the Randstad, the Flemish Diamond and the RheinRuhr Area -- Introduction -- Complementary relationships -- The analysis of complementarity -- The division of labour in the Randstad, the Flemish Diamond and the RheinRuhr Area -- Conclusion -- From central place to network model: Theory and evidence of a paradigm-change -- Intercity relationships: from hierarchy to network? -- A network model of spatial organisation -- Research approach -- Hogescholen -- Hospitals -- Conclusion -- Realising potential: Building regional organising capacity in polycentric urban regions -- Polycentricity and regional development -- The polycentric urban region in spatial planning policy -- Potentialities of a regional approach in polycentric urban regions -- Limited regional organising capacity in polycentric urban regions -- Context-bound constraints to the building of regional organising capacity -- Conclusions -- Summing small cities does not make a metropolis: Polycentric urban regions and the provision of cultural, leisure and sports amenities -- Introduction -- Regional externalities in PURs -- Research design.

Analysis: linking the shape of the regional urban system with the presence of urban amenities -- Conclusion -- Synthesis -- Introduction -- Summary of results -- Reflections -- Implications for regional development strategies in PURs -- Directions for further research -- Final remarks -- Interviewees -- Samenvatting: Synergie in polycentrische stedelijke regio's: complementariteit, organiserend vermogen en kritische massa -- Curriculum Vitae.

In understanding and explaining the functioning of cities, contemporary urban and regional studies attribute great significance to relationships between cities. This book focuses on relationships between cities in polycentric urban regions (PURs), which are regions containing proximate but distinct cities that are rather similar in size.

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Electronic reproduction. Ann Arbor, Michigan : ProQuest Ebook Central, 2018. Available via World Wide Web. Access may be limited to ProQuest Ebook Central affiliated libraries.