This book investigates how the rhetoric and reality of globalization fundamentally reshape the economic and social structures of modern metropolitan areas. John R. Short, a professor of public policy and geography, utilizes a multidisciplinary approach to analyze how cities position themselves within the international marketplace. He argues that the 'global city' is not merely an economic outcome but a constructed narrative that dictates urban planning, policy, and social stratification.

Experts in urban planning and geography frequently cite this work for its clear articulation of the relationship between global capital and local urban policy. Readers often note the accessible yet rigorous academic framework that makes complex economic theories applicable to contemporary city management.