This volume investigates the complex interplay between local economic initiatives and the broader structural challenges facing urban centers in the late twentieth century. Victor A. Hausner, drawing upon extensive research and policy analysis, examines the efficacy of various urban development strategies. The text provides a rigorous framework for evaluating how municipal governments and private entities can collaborate to stimulate growth in distressed metropolitan areas.

Experts frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the evolution of urban policy during the late 1980s. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a comprehensive resource for students and practitioners of urban planning.