While the problems facing cities increase in number and magnitude, there are few co-ordinated mechanisms in place for effecting change. In an effort to bridge the gaps in communication and information, the Burton A. Weisbrod and James C. Worthy, in conjunction with Norhtwestern’s Center for Urban Affairs and Policy Research, organized a conference to address these issues. The papers collected from this conference bring scholarship together with expert opinion from professionals in government, business and community organizations. This volume focuses on employment as it is related to education, worker mobility, crime, public finance, welfare, and relationships between the public and private sectors as a key factor in resolving urban problems. The book should be useful as a means of opening a dialogue between academicians and practitioners, and as a blueprint for improving both the process and substance of policy.