“For the first time the urban population of the earth will outnumber the rural. Indeed, given the imprecisions of Third World censuses, this epochal transition has probably already occurred.”

This key statistic provides Davis with the impetus for his study. This major shift in the history of the world has brought about the rise of unemployment, slums, and human suffering in different, modern ways.

“The price of this new urban order, however, will be increasing inequality within and between cities of different sizes and economic specializations.”

With the rise of globalization, cities do business not only locally, but all over the world. The new urban order has brought about increased inequality between the rich and the urban poor. As Davis shows, governments often care more about appeasing powerful institutions abroad than caring for the poor in their cities.

“In most of the developing world, however, city growth lacks the powerful manufacturing export engines of China, Korea, and Taiwan, as well as China's vast inflow of foreign capital (currently equal to half of total foreign investment in the entire developing world).”

Here, Davis illustrates why the shift from rural to urban poverty is unique. Most major cities with huge numbers of unemployed inhabitants do not have the industrial base to support the job growth needed to contend with growing populations.