Includes coverage of the many disciplines that include the study of urban areas such as urban anthropology, urban economics, urban geography, urban history, urban politics, urban psychology, and urban sociology.

Because cities are centers of consumption in a global economy, their ecological footprints extend far beyond their geographic boundaries. The entries in this volume, from case studies of greener cities to discussions of green urban design, infrastructure, and processes, can help us transform our cities into healthier, sustainable communities where a growing urban population can thrive.

Recently corporations' economic stimulus programs have focused on green economic development based on alternative energy technologies and the infrastructure. This guide will help flesh out some of their components.

Since the industrial revolution we have witnessed what the historian Lewis Mumford has called carboniferous capitalism; human civilization is drawing down the stocks of accumulated solar energy found in the form of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas to supply our heat, electricity, and transportation fuels. This reliance on stocks of fossil fuel energy helped maintain the illusion that we were getting something for nothing.

This source is an updated online version of the 5 volume print version.

Provides an accouting of the history of the U.S. economy. Includes essays; biographies; industry and geographic profiles; and definitions covering key events, movements, businesses and topics concerning this important curricular area. Features entries on concepts and terms, entry-specific list of further reading, more than 200 illustrations, a timeline and chronological table of contents and a general alphabetical index.