Second-rank cities are back on the academic scene, capturing the interest of scholars with their unexpected recent performance with respect to first-rank cities. Looking at the data on average urban GDP growth in 139 European cities since 1996, the relatively strong position of large cities (over 1.5 million inhabitants) on national growth coincides with the periods of fastest expansion, while at times of slowdown second-rank cities prevail. Especially in the recent period of economic downturn, second-rank cities have recorded annual GDP growth rates much less negative than those of capital cities; and in some European countries, like Austria and Germany, all cities have outperformed their capitals. In explaining this phenomenon, linking urban dynamics to agglomeration theories seems the most interesting approach. However, merely to link agglomeration economies to urban size in order to interpret urban performance is neither convincing nor sufficient, and it calls for additional investigation into how agglomeration economies work. This books was originally published as a special issue of European Planning Studies.

Introduction: Second-Rank City Dynamics: Theoretical Interpretations Behind Their Growth Potentials Roberto Camagni and Roberta Capello 1. City Size and Economic Performance: Is Bigger Better, Small More Beautiful or Middling Marvellous? Michael Parkinson, Richard Meegan and Jay Karecha 2. The Rise of Second-Rank Cities: What Role for Agglomeration Economies? Roberto Camagni, Roberta Capello and Andrea Caragliu3. Borrowed Size, Agglomeration Shadows and Cultural Amenities in North-West Europe Martijn J. Burger, Evert J. Meijers, Marloes M. Hoogerbrugge and Jaume Masip Tresserra4. Related Variety and Regional Economic Growth in a Cross-Section of European Urban Regions Frank van Oort, Stefan de Geus and Teodora Dogaru5. Assessing Polycentric Urban Systems in the OECD: Country, Regional and Metropolitan Perspectives Monica Brezzi and Paolo Veneri6. First- and Second-Tier Cities in Regional Agglomeration Models Chiara Agnoletti, Chiara Bocci, Sabrina Iommi, Patrizia Lattarulo and Donatella Marinari7. Polycentric Metropolitan Development: From Structural Assessment to Processual Dimensions Rudolf Giffinger and Johannes Suitner