Rapid urbanization, as well as being an enormous challenge, also offers great opportunity as investment in housing and the provision of shelter is potentially one of the most effective drivers of economic growth and sustainable national development. This book presents an account of the role of housing in economic growth and development. Rapid urbanization, as well as being an enormous challenge, also offers great opportunity as investment in housing and the provision of shelter is potentially one of the most effective drivers of economic growth and sustainable national development. In recent debates, however, its economic significance and role as an instrument of social policy have been overlooked. This book is a much-needed account, with numerous detailed examples, of the role of housing in economic growth and development by an author in a unique position to understand its importance and the practical measures for delivering that growth. The book analyses the relationships between housing and economic development. Housing as an engine of economic growth plays a central role at local (city), national and global levels. While the linkages between housing and the macroeconomic environment in developed countries has been studied, very little is known in the case of developing and transitional countries where the author establishes these linkages with great clarity, supported by detailed case studies chosen to reflect regional diversity as well as differences in socioeconomic development and political systems. On the basis of this analysis, it goes on to develop specific policies and practices to enable governments to enhance the contribution of housing in economic growth. The world's urban population is growing by 100,000 households a day. Rapid urbanization presents enormous opportunity for investment in housing - one of the most effective drivers of economic growth and an engine of sustainable national development. This book is written by Anna Tibaijuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN-HABITAT and Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).