Urban development in peripheral regions of the New Europe: The case of Vigo in Galicia

The paper discusses the development of peripheral cities and regions in a world where economic integration is growing. The paper argues that the development of peripheral cities and regions depends on their development potential and accessibility to markets. Their sustainable development, however, lies in the functioning of the forces of development: the organization of the productive system, the diffusion of innovation, the territory's urban development and the change and adaptation of the institutional system. These are forces that govern the economic growth process, generate externalities, and reduce production costs through reciprocal interaction. The paper's discussion is based on the analysis of the dynamics of the city of Vigo in Galicia, a peripheral region of the European Union.