Developed around the theme of economic development, this up-to-date book is authoritatively written by experts (with personal, first-hand familiarity) on each region of the world. The development perspective is used to create a substantive volume on world regional geography that takes readers beyond the customary rote overview of facts and figures to an understanding of the character of the world's peoples—as seen from their historical, cultural, and environmental attributes. Four introductory chapters set the stage for discussions of economic development within the context of geographic principles. Other chapter topics include the European Union, Sub-Saharan Africa, Monsoon Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, the U.S., and Canada. For government foreign area specialists, and corporate employees doing business abroad in a global economy.