The subtleties of planning and how it affects - and is affected by - the intricate web of government and industry can often prove difficult to grasp even for the experts. Urban Planning and Politics offers insight into the delicate balance between inclusive politics and the public interest. It shows how planning plays a part in the fair distribution of the benefits and costs of urban society.

Ranging from basic concepts to specific policies, it covers the common tools and procedures planners use, notes the various participants in the planning process, and focuses on areas of special interest such as housing, economic development, transportation, the urban environment - and the challenges the new century holds.