International cities can be divided into three groups. There are cities, like Geneva, Brussels or Strasbourg, which traditionally direct international relations, or cities with high FDI or big export and the cities, which have mediator roles between world economy and domestic economy. Some of our cities had since long important function in international relations. Presence of foreign citizens, strongly influence the situation of places. After 1989 Hungary became a host country, mostly for those arriving from Romania, Ukraine, Serbia. Most of them come to Hungary with the aim of getting work. There’s a significant role of tourists from different countries in the development of our cities. At the same time the economic situation depends highly on international integrations, export-capacity, FDI, etc. Regional centres have special function in transport network and in their development. Participation in information and communication networks are today essential, they could mean the new economic power in every region. Education principally in higher level became more and more international also, as well as research and science.

The research gives a historical summary of the international relations in the cities of Hungary. Analyses the role of foreigners in our cities as well as tourists, workers or investors. It gives a presentation of the international elements in culture life and in the education and science and examines international transport and telecommunication. The data used originate from local surveys, from KSH, APEH and Transport Science Institute.

Hungary has to take advantages of international integrations, and relations on different level, but must solve the issue of relation between the capital city and the countryside also. Cities by the borders have special tasks.

MTA RKK Budapest
Hungary
http://www.mta.hu
Ms Györgyi Barta

01/12/2004

Ms Györgyi Barta

research

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Competitiveness