The Wealth and Poverty of Regions - by Mario Polèse Hardcover

Book Synopsis

As the world becomes more interconnected through travel and electronic communication, many believe that physical places will become less important. But as Mario Polèse argues in The Wealth and Poverty of Regions, geography will matter more than ever before in a world where distance is allegedly dead.

This provocative book surveys the globe, from London and Cape Town to New York and Beijing, contending that regions rise-or fall-due to their location, not only within nations but also on the world map. Polèse reveals how concentrations of industries and populations in specific locales often result in minor advantages that accumulate over time, resulting in reduced prices, improved transportation networks, increased diversity, and not least of all, "buzz"-the excitement and vitality that attracts ambitious people. The Wealth and Poverty of Regions maps out how a heady mix of size, infrastructure, proximity, and cost will determine which urban centers become the thriving metropolises of the future, and which become the deserted cities of the past. Engagingly written, the book provides insight to the past, present, and future of regions.

Review Quotes

"This clearly argued and amply illustrated work is a useful introduction to the forces causing some cities/regions to grow and others to stagnate."-- "Choice"

"Interested in the question of why some places prosper and others lag behind? Then you need to read Mario Polèse's wide-ranging book, The Wealth and Poverty of Regions. Polèse provides a way to consider how geography and location matter even as communication makes the globe seem smaller."-- "Business History Review" (7/30/2013 12:00:00 AM)

"Polèse's work is a tour de force for the rebirth of geography, both as a popular topic and as a discipline for deciphering the vast changes in our world. One can only hope that this book is but a preface to a subsequent exploration of this new transnational urban-­industrial geography, for which we have few effective categories or concise words. Polèse has proven that he would be the right expert to take us on that journey."-- "Literary Review of Canada"

"For the first time in history, more than half the human population now lives in urban areas. Although economists and other social scientists have paid a considerable attention to the unequal development of nations, much less is known regarding the magnitude of spatial inequalities within countries as well as to the role and strength of urban agglomeration economies in driving regional economic development. In the wake of new economic geography and modern urban economics, Mario Polèse has succeeded in providing a masterful synthesis of the various roles played by cities in the process of regional growth. Thanks to a magnificent and reader-friendly exposition, the material presented in this book is made available to a broad audience of scientists and decision makers."

--Jacques-François Thisse, CORE, Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium) (7/13/2009 12:00:00 AM)

"This is one of the most original books in the subject area that I have read in years--the nearest is Jane Jacobs, forty years ago. It is remarkable in the way it combines depth and breadth, all presented in a jargon-free, almost conversational style."

--Sir Peter Hall, The Bartlett School of Architecture and Planning, University College London (1/28/2009 12:00:00 AM)

"Writing with flair and insight, Polèse blends economics, geography, and history to explain why some places grow and others do not. In this highly readable account, Polèse unwraps the patterns and processes, and the commonalities and nuances, of both rich and poor places to outline which cities will prosper in the twenty-first century. Drawing on examples from several continents, he tells a story in which many forces change while others continue to be influential."--Ed Malecki, Ohio State University (8/10/2009 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Mario Polèse holds the Senior Canada Research Chair in Urban and Regional Studies and is professor at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) in Montreal. He is coauthor of, most recently, Connecting Cities with Macroeconomic Concerns.