Evaluating the performance of smart cities in the global economic network

A substantiated definition of smart cities is urgently required. In this chapter we explore the crossoverbetween Smart City and World City Network literature. We argue that this crossover cancontribute to the theoretical and empiricaldevelopment of smart city literature. Wehypothesize that if a city gets smarter than its peers, then it will eventually also holda stronger position within the global economy. Therefore, we argue that the regional and transnational positioning of cities is conditional to being smart, and where the building of dense and diverse economic network relations becomes essential. To testtheseassumptions, we carry out geographicand statistical analysis, using on the one hand foreign direct investment (FDI) data between smart cities and other cities of the world;and on the other hand, already available smart city indicators. In this way we try to uncover the network and urban characteristics of smart cities and make recommendationshow to improve their competitive position within the world economy.

• View at Publisher
• View at Scopus