“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

“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)

“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

"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

"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

“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