Places do well when they promote transformations along the dimensions of economic geography: higher densities as cities grow; shorter distances as workers and businesses migrate closer to density; and fewer divisions as nations lower their economic borders and enter world markets to take advantage of scale and trade in specialized products.

World Development Report 2009 concludes that the transformations along these three are essential for development and should be encouraged.

The maps below view the world through the lens of economic geography. Click to enlarge.