Medium-sized cities, intermediate scales and planning. Potential processes and missing tools in Brescia

Abstract

The ongoing phase of transition, led by processes of globalization and world crisis, has been encouraging the demographic and economic re-centralization towards major and largest cities. This trend urges the analysis of socio-economic and spatial dynamics in medium-sized cities which are historically characterized by manufacturing and entrepreneurial culture. This is the case of Brescia (one of the urban hubs of the North Italy city-region), where a strategic agenda (up to now, missing) could foster the management of trans-scalar urban issues, as well as the development of multi-level governance and planning solutions.

Keywords

• postmetropolis
• medium-sized cities
• economic transition and innovation
• multi-level governance and planning