ABSTRACT
The 21st century has reached a major milestone in human history. In 2008, for the first time, more people are living in cities worldwide than in any other form of human settlement (United Nations 2014). The United Nations predicts that the urban population will continue to grow at an accelerated rate in the first half of the 21st century (Ruble 2012). Although much of this growth will be in the developing world, we will see growth in every corner of the globe with more than 500 cities predicted to expand beyond one million residents within a decade (Ruble 2012). At the same time, urban inequalities are also growing, with greater economic gaps than ever before between the wealthy and poor in any given city (O’Connor et al. 2001). Such shifts have profound implications for the way we live. One thing is certain for 21st-century cities: change is the new normal.
