Institutional perspective of urban and regional economics – selected areas of empirical application

Studies on urban and regional development can draw from the intellectual heritage of institutional economics which assumes, among other things, that the historical trajectories of development, as well as social relations, determine the ways in which economic entities reach their goals. In a broader context, an institutional environment (especially this shaped in the conditions of spatial proximity), is not only a framework, but also a source of new ideas, and as such contributes to sustainable growth and competitiveness. The aim of this paper is to present possible directions of regional research in the spirit of institutionalism, taking into account its current strands and schools. This review is supported by the presentation of some empirical undertakings, such as Doing Business index, risk assessment indices, European Urban Audit or Creative Cities index. In the conclusion, some methodological.