The Publication reviews urbanization trends, particularly trends in urban poverty, and documents the most recent economic trends in light of the global economic and financial crisis. The analysis also includes some medium- and longer-term trends of underlying demographic changes and migration patterns, environmental factors such as the national water supply, and structural changes in agriculture and the economy as a whole. The analytical publication provides policy recommendations on urbanization in general and housing conditions in particular. The Publication is the fruit of the joint efforts of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the UN Development Group (UNDG), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).