Hard and Soft Determinants of Interregional Competition

The stepwise reduction and final elimination of economic borders within the Europe of the Single Market developing into the European Economic and Currency Union, a process intensified by the opening of East-West relationships and upcoming Eastern extension of the European Union, has already brought stimulating impulses to many economic activities. It results, however, not only in a strengthening of competition and the consequent restructuring in most markets for commodities and services, but also leads to a new, higher level of competition for resources between urban regions.