Sustainability and the City

CHAPTER 5

The Service-City Model

Cities are without a doubt one of the main channels to achieve sustainable development and economic and social growth. Yet cities are also the cause of many economic and social problems (European Union 2011). For example, while the contribution cities make to the gross domestic product (GDP) is typically very high, many cities suffer from severe unemployment and poverty, which can sap their resources and become a drain on their respective countries. Likewise, while cities typically contribute markedly to the art and other cultural assets of their respective countries—cities usually house a variety of museums, galleries, theaters, and art schools—the related cultural activities are often led by very small and close-knit ...