Urban and Regional Dynamics—Towards an Integrated Approach

Abstract

The generic structure of an integrated approach for urban and regional dynamics is presented. Interurban and intraurban interactions of agents are considered. The decision strategies of the different groups' agents on the microlevel, given certain constraints, constitute the fundamental starting point of the analysis. The master equation formalism provides the framework for the derivation of an appropriate set of nonlinear dynamic equations on the macrolevel, describing the state of the spatial system. Phenomena of self-organisation and of bifurcation may occur in such open systems when they are maintained under conditions of an active environment. It is also outlined how the trend parameters of the system can be estimated by using empirical data.