Includes bibliographies.

Part I. Urban policy in an era of retrenchment -- Urban policy in the lean society / John P. Blair and David Nachmias -- The state of cities in the second republic / Theodore J. Lowi -- The possibilities for urban revitalization : constraints and opportunities in an era of retrenchment / Louis H. Masotti -- Bureaucratization of the emerging city / Scott Greer -- Part II. The tax revolt and policy priorities -- Citizen preferences and urban policy types / Wayne Lee Hoffman and Terry Nichols Clark -- The season of tax revolt / John L. Mikesell -- Public opinion, the taxpayers' revolt and local governments / F. Ted Hebert and Richard D. Bingham -- A mayor's perspective on the tax revolt / Henry Maier -- Part III. Urban policy areas : prospects for the 1980s -- Employment policy in postaffluent America / Gary Gappert -- The diminishing urban promise : economic retrenchment, social policy, and race / Harold M. Rose -- Anglo retrenchment and the Hispanic renaissance : a view from the Southwest / Warner Bloomberg, Jr. -- Urban education : complex problems - no simple solutions / Chava Nachmias -- Health care policy : disillusion and confusion / Ann Lennarson Greer -- City personnel : issues for the 1980s / David H. Rosenbloom.

Also issued online.