This work provides an overview on the theoretical description of the electron dynamics in nano and mesoscopic semiconductor structures driven by short asymmetric electromagnetic pulses. For double quantum well structures we show how the electron can be steered within picoseconds into certain spatial regions and discuss ways to maintain in time these non-stationary situations. We also show how charge polarization and charge current can be swiftly generated in mesoscopic rings when irradiated with electromagnetic pulses. We also envisage the possibility of pulse-induced electron removal from quantum dots.