This book investigates the failure of the American urban renewal program, arguing that federal housing policies systematically destroyed low-income neighborhoods rather than improving them. Martin Anderson, an economist and policy advisor, utilizes extensive data from the Housing and Home Finance Agency to demonstrate that the program displaced more residents than it housed. He presents a framework that critiques the economic inefficiency and social disruption caused by government-led redevelopment efforts during the mid-20th century.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational critique of mid-century urban planning that shifted the discourse toward market-based solutions. Readers frequently note the clarity of the economic arguments, though some scholars suggest the analysis lacks a broader discussion of the political motivations behind the legislation.