Planning systems are continually evolving and comparative studies of these evolutionary processes provide lessons for both academic and professionals. Planning and Urban Growth in Nordic Countries provides a survey of the development of urban planning in the Nordic countries with particular emphasis on the period since the middle of the nineteenth century. Authors from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden - all respected authorities in their fields - examine their own national development against the background of those in other Nordic countries, the rest of Europe and the USA. In each country study, the following questions are addressed. When and how did the shift from preindustrial to modern planning occur? What is the nature of the legal planning framework and how has it changed over time? What is the mechanism of plan-making and how has the planning system been organized at different times? How has planning been affected by societal developments in the different countries? What urban ideals have influenced the design of the planning process? How has planning been influenced by that in other Nordic countries and by the rest of the world?