Reliance on one sector of economy as driver of economy no longer working for cities
For decades, cities developed according to a simple formula: attract investors, create jobs, build infrastructure, and grow. Today, this model is clearly losing effectiveness. Polish cities can no longer rely on monofunctionality or a single economic sector, nor on the logic of “investor first.” Instead, modern urban development must focus on diversification, resilience to economic, demographic, and climate change, and long-term thinking.
City leaders increasingly emphasize quality of life, mixed-use neighborhoods, green spaces, and access to services, education, and culture. The priority is shifting from cheap labor to attracting talent through livable environments. Concepts like the 15-minute city reflect this change. Effective urban management now requires dialogue with residents combined with visionary leadership, flexible planning, and architecture designed to serve communities, not just investors, for decades to come.
