ABSTRACT
Introduction We believe that the scale and depth of urban poverty is ignored within most lowincome nations, many middle-income nations and globally. We believe that this refl ects a considerable misrepresentation and underestimation of urban poverty, and occurs because of the very narrow ways in which poverty is usually conceived, defi ned and measured. This also refl ects a lack of interest from governments and international agencies in seeking to understand urban poverty and the many deprivations that it causes or contributes to. This book presents the evidence for these claims. A companion volume, to be published in early 2013, will focus on what has been learnt about the most effective means to reduce urban poverty.
