The Future Paths of Urbanization: A Brief Review

Nowadays, the traditional, established idea of inclusivity and equality of the so called “European City” has been threatened by an increasingly faster urbanization process. The present urban sprawl follows a fragmented and unbalanced development path. This fragmentation is likely to produce severe consequences in the socioeconomic sphere of individuals, leading, in particular, to income inequalities. Within this context, the work provides a theoretical framework aimed at analysing the present urban expansion paths. The contribution is addressed to policy makers aimed at providing indications to design effective socio-territorial policies to enhance the quality and equity of future urbanization in metropolitan areas throughout the world.