This book examines the rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide, especially within the previous 50 years, identifying the factors that have contributed to this phenomenon and exploring its many consequences.Global Urban Growth: A Reference Handbook examines urbanization and the challenges associated with rapid urban growth and urban sprawl from a truly global perspective, rather than presenting only a limited exploration of the subject by addressing a single city, country, or region. Investigating urbanization and related policy challenges as both a general phenomenon of all modern societies and one that varies greatly in different regions of the world, the book charts different growth trajectories in these societies and varying policy responses. Significant variations in culture, historical background, economic factors, and political and social development are considered. A chapter on the United States and Canada documents how urbanization trends have occurred in North America and presents our policy approaches in comparison and contrast with the rest of the world. The author offers a balanced overview by marshaling the facts and clearly presenting both the benefits and the drawbacks for readers.