Comparing European urban systems using dissimilarity indices

Thomas Terfrüchte and Anna Growe

European Planning Studies, 2026, vol. 34, issue 4, 761-784

Abstract: The organization, control and development of urban systems in Europe have long been subjects of debate within the field of spatial sciences. Two major research areas focus on (a) polycentricity and (b) functional differentiation, or the division of labor between cities. However, most studies only address one of these perspectives, either by considering a single country as a case study or by examining only part of an urban system. This is sometimes due to the research focus and sometimes due to a lack of data for Europe-wide analyzes. Above all, this is due to the challenges posed by the different urban systems of nation states. The present study addresses this issue by developing a comparative methodology for analyzing urban systems based on the aforementioned two dimensions. The basic approach involves observing and categorizing differences within a city system using dissimilarity indices. Location data on metropolitan functions form the basis of the empirical analysis. The results offer new insights into urban systems theory and provide a practical foundation for spatial development policy, particularly in the context of European cohesion strategies and resilient settlement structures.

Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1080/09654313.2025.2601713

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