In 2000, the average driver in US metropolitan areas endured 27 hours of traffic delays, a rise from 7 hours in 1980. In many other countries, traffic delays are considerably worse than in the United States, and in developing countries urban traffic congestion is increasing with alarming...

Many countries have experienced major economic changes since the mid-1980s as a result of the deregulation and liberalization of national financial systems – two key aspects of globalization – with some experiencing boom and bust in rapid succession. The small Northern European country of...