The liberalization of trade and its questionable benefit; the increasing fluidity in the movement of people and trade across geo-political divides; the emergence of unregulated virtual trade and its implications on domestic economic policy; and the social implications of the new world order are all issues demanding on-going critical examination from a perspective beyond the common lens of neo-liberal economics. Such an examination is pursued in Kouzmin and Hayne edited volume Essays in Economic Globalization, Transnational Policies and Vulnerability, a collection of 13 diverse, challenging and, often, cautionary chapters contributed by an international cohort of scholars.

This book discusses and analyzes past and ongoing national urban policy development efforts from around the globe, particularly those that can lead the way toward smart and green cities. In view of the adoption of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially the goal to have cities that are inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable, urban policies that can help achieve this goal are urgently needed. The UN-Habitat (HABITAT III) puts national urban policies at the heart of implementing and rethinking the urban agenda, and identifies them as being integral to the equitable and sustainable development of nations. Against this background, this important book, which gathers contributions from academics, planners and urban specialists, reviews existing urban policies from developing and developed nations, discusses various countries’ smart and green urban policies, and outlines the way forward. As such, it is essential reading for all social scientists, planners, designers, architects, and policymakers working on urban development around the world.