Digitalization, the Internet, social media, smart devices and robots have become indispensible part of our lives, homes, offices and cars as well as urban and public governance and service delivery. The speed of changes in ICTs and in the use of smart devices and social media has led to exponential growth in the amount of big data produced. All these changes and developments make it much easier to customize services to individual needs and preferences, and to better understand human attitudes, problems and demands to develop responsive and innovative solutions and services. Citizen’s increased expectations have led to search for higher productivity and quality in urban and public services. Accordingly, this edited book, including 15 chapters, discusses the characteristics, significance and consequences of the digital age and its impact on public and urban administration and policies. Besides, it puts forward important predictions about the future directions of public and urban governance and of public and urban policy making, service delivery processes and research.
