Decline and Fall … or survival of Western urbanity?

Safety aspects comprise one of the most important determinants of urban location choice and, more indirectly, also property value. This body of literature much conveys our current knowledge about how negative social externalities and their mitigation affect the attractiveness of cities. In this study such effects on both people and property are examined. This includes participating in current debates on ghettoization, immigrant crimes and asylum centres – and terrorism. These issues are connected, and used as umbrella concept for the most serious threats facing Western cities in the foreseeable future. Recognising and strictly dealing with the safety problems caused by immigration are vital preconditions for keeping urban areas liveable and city centres (as icons of city identity) convivial. A successful management of these problems could then be used as strategy for city competition.