This collection investigates the structural economic shifts that have driven the divergence between the industrial North and the expanding South in the United States. The authors, Larry Sawers and William K. Tabb, curate a multidisciplinary analysis involving economists, geographers, and urban planners to examine the mechanics of industrial relocation. By synthesizing diverse academic perspectives, the text argues that regional restructuring is not merely a geographic phenomenon but a consequence of broader capitalist development and policy decisions.

Experts recognize this volume as a foundational interdisciplinary resource for understanding the economic geography of the United States during the late 20th century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the comprehensive nature of the contributors' research.