Rising densities of human settlements, migration and transport to reduce distances to market, and specialization and trade facilitated by fewer international divisions are central to economic development. The transformations along these three dimensions density, distance, and division are most noticeable in North America, Western Europe, and Japan, but countries in Asia and Eastern Europe are changing in ways similar in scope and speed. 'World Development Report 2009: Reshaping Economic Geography' concludes that these spatial transformations are essential, and should be encouraged. The conclusion is not without controversy. Slum-dwellers now number a billion, but the rush to cities continues. Globalization is believed to benefit many, but not the billion people living in lagging areas of developing nations. High poverty and mortality persist among the world's 'bottom billion', while others grow wealthier and live longer lives. Concern for these three billion often comes with the prescription that growth must be made spatially balanced. The WDR has a different message: economic growth is seldom balanced, and efforts to spread it out prematurely will jeopardize progress. The Report: documents how production becomes more concentrated spatially as economies grow. proposes economic integration as the principle for promoting successful spatial transformations. revisits the debates on urbanization, territorial development, and regional integration and shows how today's developers can reshape economic geography.

Preface - List of Contributors - Abbreviations and Acronyms - Acknowledgements - Scientific Programme Committee - Addresses at the Inaugural Session: Gerardo Ortega, President of the General Council of the Colleges of Economists of Spain, Victor L.Urquidi, President of the International Economic Association, 1980-83, Felipe Gonzalez, President of the Government of Spain - PART 1 INTRODUCTION; V.L.Urquidi - PART 2 PAPERS PRESENTED AT THE PLENARY SESSION; O.Bogomolov, F.Herrera, J.Lesourne, J.P.Lewis, H.M.A.Onitiri, L.A.Rojo & A.Sen - PART 3 COMMENT ON THE PAPERS OF THE PLENARY SESSION; J.Pajestka & L.B.M.Mennes - PART 4 GENERAL CONCLUSIONS OF THE CONGRESS - Addresses at the Closing Session: Abdon Fernandez Cabrero, Dean of the Colegio de Economistas, Madrid, Kenneth J.Arrow, President of the International Economic Association, 1983-86, Victor L.Urquidi, President of the International Economic Association, 1980-83, H.M. The King of Spain, Don Juan Carlos - Index

This chapter discusses various past and future aspects of the global economy. There has been a huge transformation of the global economy in the last several years. Articles on the future of energy in the global economy by Jeffrey Ball and on measuring inequality by Jonathan Ostry and Andrew Berg are also illustrated. Since the 2008 global crisis, global economists must change the way they look at the world.

In the last ten to fifteen years, profound structural reforms have moved Latin America and the Caribbean from closed, state-dominated economies to ones that are more market-oriented and open. Policymakers expected that these changes would speed up growth. This book is part of a multi-year project to determine whether these expectation have been fulfilled. Focusing on technological change, the impact of the reforms on the process of innovation is examined. It notes that the development process is proving to be highly heterogenous across industries, regions and firms and can be described as strongly inequitable. This differentiation that has emerged has implications for job creation, trade balance, and the role of small and medium sized firms. This ultimately suggests, amongst other things, the need for policies to better spread the use of new technologies.