In 2013, the United Nations reported that the world population was 7.2 billion, with projections of adding an additional 1 billion in the next decade (United Nations, 2013). Fifty-two percent of that population resides in urban areas, with the expectation that that proportion will rise to almost 60% over the next decade (United Nations, 2012a). By 2020 it is anticipated that: Eastern Asia will be almost 65% urban, South-Eastern Asia 50% urban, and Oceania 71% urban (United Nations, 2012b). As Figure 1 demonstrates, the fastest growing urban agglomerations (UAs) are largely concentrated in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia on the Pacific Rim. China contributes disproportionally, with 144 urban agglomerations in excess of 750,000 in population, and 17 of the fifty fastest growing agglomerations located therein. There some “. 88 million urban dwellers” have been added each week, accounting for 65% of all urban population growth globally (UN-Habitat, 2013, p. 28). By contrast, the slowest growing urban agglomerations by population are found across Europe. Population is only one part of the story. We can also explore these regions through the lens of economic growth. According to the Brookings Institute’s Global MetroMonitor, while economic performance in Europe continues to be hampered by problems in the “eurozone,” the Pacific Rim has fared much better. Istrate and Nadeau reported that in 2012: