In 1944 in New Hampshire, 44 allied nations sent 730 delegates to develop a global financial system. Their resulting agreement created the World Bank and the IMF; their work also led to the Bretton Woods system—standards of international commercial and financial relations. Davis blames Bretton Woods institutions for failing developing states and creating increasing slum conditions.

Conurbation is when several towns merge with the suburbs of an extending city. Davis points to this recent phenomenon as a marker of increasing urban populations and positioning of slums on the periphery of cities.

One of the most inhumane terms in the book, hot demolition refers to the practice of landlords setting fire to slums they own to clear the structures in lieu of waiting for slow governmental approval for actual demolition.