Choice Review

Sponsored by the UN Centre for Human Settlements, this anthology is written by two dozen eminent scholars, administrators, and practitioners. Recognizing that little improvement in shelter and settlement conditions in the Third World countries was attained during the last decade, the contributors subject past experience to a systematic analysis to uncover errors of the past and to search for new approaches and directions that will contribute to a great goal of ``shelter for all by the year 2000.'' Participants were asked to focus on five basic perspectives and concerns: assessing realistic and feasible development potentials; enhancing awareness of governments and international agencies of the pitfalls of some policies; dispelling myths and illusions about shelter and settlement in the past; feasibility of improving housing conditions within sociopolitical constraints; and evaluating the possibility of establishing self-correcting procedures. Among specific points of concensus: incrementally built housing is more effective than the provisions of public housing; public policies tend to favor large cities; a need for strengthening local governments and land developments; upgrading rather than blocking settlements of the poor; and providing the poor with access to finance, land, and stable tenure. Clearly written and well documented, this symposium is recommended for upper-division and graduate collections in economic development.-O. Zinam, University of Cincinnati