Intended for students of economics, real estate, public administration, and economic development with a basic understanding of the principles of macro- and microeconomics, this text introduces regional and urban economics first by presenting five chapters on market areas and firm location analysis that provide coverage of linear market areas, market areas and systems of cities, industrial location, agglomeration economics and entrepreneurs' preferences, and spatial pricing decisions. Author Edwards (economics, St. Cloud State U.) then presents a section on regional growth and development that contains chapters on short-run income models, supply-based regional growth analysis, core-periphery models, regional labor markets and migration, and government policy towards regional growth. Urban land use and urban form are explored in chapters discussing land rents and land-use patterns, housing markets, transportation, and growth controls and zoning. The final topics treated are local public finance, intergovernmental relations, income inequality and poverty, optimal local education policies, and crime policy. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)