Complex Systems Theory in Regional and Urban Marketing: Strategies for Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Cities

A special issue of Systems (ISSN 2079-8954). This special issue belongs to the section "Complex Systems and Cybernetics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 658

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Faculty of Business and Communication, School of Engineering, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain
Interests: marketing; market research; operations research; leadership; digital marketing; green marketing; public marketing; sustainability

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Complex systems theory offers a valuable framework for understanding the dynamics of regional and urban marketing. This theory views cities as interconnected systems where various elements such as infrastructure, economy, environment, and social networks interact in complex ways. By applying this perspective, urban planners and marketers can develop strategies that enhance the resilience, sustainability, and intelligence of cities.

In this sense, resilient cities are those that can withstand and recover from various shocks and social stresses, such as natural or economic crises. Strategies to build resilience often involve diversifying the economy, investing in robust infrastructure, and fostering strong community networks. Sustainable cities focus on long-term environmental health, economic development, and social equity. This strategy considers promoting green technologies, efficient resource use, and inclusive policies that ensure all residents benefit from urban development. Smart cities leverage technology and data to improve urban living. This includes using sensors and IoT devices to monitor and manage city resources, enhancing public services through digital platforms, and encouraging innovation through smart governance.

By integrating these concepts, urban marketers can create comprehensive strategies that not only address immediate challenges, but also promote the long-term urban health, vitality, and viability of cities in the future.

The topic “Complex Systems Theory in Regional and Urban Marketing: Strategies for Resilient, Sustainable, and Smart Cities” is aligned with the scope of the journal; that is, “Systems” focuses on systems theory in practice, including areas such as systems engineering management, urban planning, environmental management, and complex social systems. Due to the complex systems theory being central to understanding the interconnected and dynamic nature of urban environments, by applying this theory, the topic addresses how various urban elements interact and influence each other. On the one hand, the strategies for building resilient cities involve systems-based project planning and robust infrastructure development, which are directly related to systems engineering management. On the other hand, sustainable cities focus on long-term environmental health and social equity, aligning with the journal’s interest in environmental management and complex social systems. Furthermore, smart cities leverage technology and data fitting into the journal’s sections on digital systems and intelligent planning. Overall, this topic integrates multiple aspects of systems theory and practice.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions and sharing ground-breaking advancements in the field of the above mentioned subjects.

Dr. Luis Manuel Cerdá Suárez
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • complex systems theory in social sciences
  • urban marketing
  • resilient cities
  • sustainable cities
  • smart cities
  • citizen participation in cities
  • agent-based simulation
  • urban planning
  • regional and urban development

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 997 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Land Use Mix on Urban Vitality: A Systemic Conceptualization and Mechanistic Exploration
by Yuefei Zhuo, Hangang Hu and Guan Li
Systems 2025, 13(7), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13070542 - 2 Jul 2025
Abstract
Urban vitality, a critical emergent property of complex urban systems, is pivotal for sustainable, human-oriented urbanization. While land use mix (LUM) is recognized as a key strategy for shaping these systems, the systemic mechanisms through which its multifaceted dimensions influence urban vitality across [...] Read more.
Urban vitality, a critical emergent property of complex urban systems, is pivotal for sustainable, human-oriented urbanization. While land use mix (LUM) is recognized as a key strategy for shaping these systems, the systemic mechanisms through which its multifaceted dimensions influence urban vitality across spatio-temporal scales remain underexplored. This study examines the complex and spatially heterogeneous impacts of land use mix on 24 h urban vitality in Ningbo, China, conceptualizing the city as a dynamic socio-spatial system. By integrating multi-source data (Baidu Maps, POI, and OSM) and employing OLS and geographically weighted regression (GWR) models, we unravel these systemic relationships. Key findings include the following: (1) LUM significantly enhances urban vitality, acting as a crucial urban system configuration for both daytime and nighttime activity. (2) The efficacy of LUM stems more from systemic interconnections—convenient access to adjacent spaces (proximity) and functional coordination among diverse land uses—than mere compositional diversity, emphasizing the importance of interrelated elements within the urban fabric. (3) The system’s response to LUM exhibits significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity; proximity’s impact is most variable, while diversity and coordination effects are more stable, underscoring the dynamic and context-dependent nature of these interactions. (4) System-adaptive strategies are crucial: newly developed urban areas benefit from foundational infrastructure and land use diversity (system inputs), while revitalizing older towns requires optimizing spatial accessibility and functional coordination (enhancing existing system linkages). These findings advance the theoretical systems-based theoretical understanding of the LUM–vitality nexus while offering practical insights for urban planners and policymakers. Full article
30 pages, 3754 KiB  
Article
What Kind of Rural Digital Configurations Contribute to High County-Level Economic Growth? A Study Conducted in China’s Digital Village Pilot Counties
by Guojie Xie, Yu Tian, Lijuan Huang, Muyun Li and John Blenkinsopp
Systems 2025, 13(6), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/systems13060488 - 18 Jun 2025
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Abstract
The digitalization of rural areas has emerged as a crucial strategy for promoting economic development, yet the phenomenon of “digital suspension” poses a challenge, where the lack of digital integration in certain sectors may hinder economic progress. This study delves into this issue [...] Read more.
The digitalization of rural areas has emerged as a crucial strategy for promoting economic development, yet the phenomenon of “digital suspension” poses a challenge, where the lack of digital integration in certain sectors may hinder economic progress. This study delves into this issue by identifying multiple configurations that drive county-level economic growth. More specifically, this study aims to explore how rural digitalization contributes to county-level economic growth through different combinations of environmental and subject-level factors. To address this issue, this study applies the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method, guided by systems thinking and ecological systems theory. The analysis is based on 89 case samples selected from China’s digital village pilot counties, using data from the China County-level Digital Rural Index Research Report jointly released by Peking University and Ali Research Institute, published in 2022, and other county-level statistical data. The study explores the complex causal mechanisms and configuration paths through which rural digitalization empowers county-level economic growth. This study found that (1) the conditions necessary to generate high county-level economic growth do not exist in the process of rural digitalization (at least not within the digital village pilot); (2) four configurations facilitate high county-level economic growth: digital governance-led configuration, dual promotion of digital governance and digital infrastructure, dual promotion of digital life and digital infrastructure, and dual promotion of digital life and digital economy; and (3) two configurations yield non-high county-level economic growth and exhibit asymmetrical relationships with those configurations conducive to high growth. These research findings not only broaden the application of systems thinking and ecological systems theory in the realm of rural digitalization but also offer practical insights into strategies for enhancing county-level economic growth. Full article
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