Struggling Giants

<div> <p>Throughout the past thirty years a small number of city-regions have achieved unprecedented global status in the world economy while undergoing radical changes. <i>Struggling Giants</i> examines the transformation of four of the most significant metropolises: London New York Paris and Tokyo. This volume analyzes the thorniest issues these sprawling city-regions have faced including ameliorating social problems through public policies the effect of globalization on local governance and the relationships between local regional and national institutions.</p> <p>Three critical themes frame <i>Struggling Giants</i>. The first is the continuing struggle for governability in the midst of regional governmental fragmentation. The second theme is how the city-regions fight to manage powerful political biases. Policy-making is often selective the authors find and governments are more responsive to economic exigencies than to social or environmental needs. Finally these city-regions are shown to be strong economic leaders in part because they are able to change-although the authors reveal that pragmatism and piecemeal policy solutions can still prevail.<br></p> </div>