This work investigates the spatial and economic restructuring of the United States as it transitioned from a manufacturing-based economy to a service-oriented, post-industrial society. David Clark, a noted geographer, utilizes regional data and urban planning metrics to argue that the decline of traditional industrial hubs has created a distinct, uneven geographical landscape. The book provides a framework for understanding how capital mobility and technological shifts have fundamentally altered the social and physical fabric of American cities.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational resource for understanding the spatial consequences of economic transition in the late 20th century. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is well-suited for students of geography and urban planning.