SectorsUrban

SectorsUrban is a multidisciplinary framework that seeks to link the spatial distribution of economic sectors with patterns of urban growth and land use. It emerged in the early 2000s within European urban economics research, building on earlier models of the urban hierarchy and New Economic Geography. The core premise is that the relative strength of manufacturing, services, and high‑technology industries drives the trajectory of an urban area’s expansion, density, and infrastructure requirements. By mapping sectoral employment shares against spatial variables such as transport links, housing availability, and policy interventions, planners can anticipate future pressures on city cores and peripheries.

The methodology combines quantitative techniques from regional science—such as gravity models and spatial econometrics—with qualitative analyses of institutional frameworks. In practice, SectorsUrban has been applied in case studies of midsize European cities, where shifts from manufacturing to knowledge‑based services have been shown to accelerate densification in central districts while spurring new suburban nodes that house ancillary support activities. The approach also addresses the challenges of supply shortages, such as inadequate housing or transport capacity, by identifying which sectors are most likely to drive demand in specific neighborhoods.

Critics argue that the framework may over‑attribute urban change to economic structure, underestimating the role of policy, culture, or random shocks. They also point to difficulties in obtaining high‑resolution sectoral data in many countries. Proponents, however, emphasize the policy relevance of SectorsUrban, noting its utility in guiding infrastructure investment, zoning decisions, and workforce development strategies. The concept has influenced a growing body of scholarship that seeks to integrate sectoral dynamics with spatial planning, contributing to the broader field of urban systems analysis.