Urban Policy Reconsidered: Dialogues on the Problems and Prospects of American Cities / Edition 1

by Charles C. Euchner, Stephen J. McGovern

Overview

In the past decade, America has experienced an urban renaissance. Cities as varied as New York, Chicago and Boston are no longer seen as ungovernable and doomed to crime and blight. However, they still face formidable problems. Urban Policy Reconsidered is a comprehensive overview of the issues and problems facing our cities today and cover every important issue in urban affairs. What is poverty? What is economic development? What is education? What is crime? As well as covering all of these fundamental topics in-depth, the author propose a communitarian approach to addressing the many problems of our cities. This book will be the manual for anyone interested in understanding urban policy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415944717
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/03/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	364
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Charles C. Euchner is executive director of the Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Stephen J. McGovern is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Haverford College.

Table of Contents

1: Cities and the Life of the Nation The Rise and Decline of Cities The Communitarian Vision Constraints on Urban Policy Making Civic Culture and Urban Policy 2: Poverty and the Divided Metropolis Measuring Poverty Dimensions of Poverty in the U.S. Causes of Poverty The Evolution of the Welfare State The Legacy of the Great Society Welfare: From Discontent to Reform Welfare Reform Evaluating Welfare Reform The Future of Welfare Reform 3: Economic Development and the Construction of Opportunity The Rise and Fall of the Urban Economy Urban Renewal Inducing Business Investment Enticing Visitors to the City Neighborhood Revitalization Redirecting Economic Development Policy 4: Housing and the Structure of Place Housing, Opportunity, and the City The Character of American Housing Policy Housing, the Economy, and the City Housing Policy Regulating the Housing Environment The Demand Side: Improving People's Purchasing Power The Supply Side: Creating More Units The Future of Housing Policy 5: Education and the Ladder of Mobility Public Education and the American Dream The Origins and Development of Public Education Promoting Equity: School Desegregation Promoting Equity: Federal Compensatory Programs Promoting Equity: School Finance Reform The Conservative Critique of Liberal Reforms The Excellence Movement The Critique of Government Control over Schooling School Choice: Vouchers School Choice: Charter Schools The Future of Urban Education Policy Public Education and Democracy 6: Crime and the Levels of Order The Levels of Crime The Causes of Crime Policy Responses to Crime Reconstituting the Social Order 7: Re-Placing the City Constraints on Urban Revitalization The Public Realm Political Change Responsibility and Commitment

Editorial Reviews

"For those of us who believe that American cities have a bright future ahead of them, this is a timely, thoughtful and invaluable road map to that future. You may or may not agree with all of their policy prescriptions, but if you care about our urban communities, this is a must read book." — Michael Dukakis, Distinguished Professor, Department of Political Science, Northeastern University
"This immensely appealing and innovative book fills a yawning gap in the literature on cities by systematically treating the important policy issues of our time. Through a dialogue format, the authors succeed in making complex issues accessible. This will make the book unusually appealing to instructors and students, and as a bonus it is an excellent scholarly source that brings to bear an impressive array of sources. This is a winner!" — Dennis Judd, Department of Political Science, University of Illinois at Chicago
"Urban Policy Reconsidered is a unique and long-awaited work that compels the attention of students, academics, officials and just about anyone who seeks to understand the dilemmas of policy and governance facing urban America. Euchner and McGovern's in-depth survey of the evolving condition of our cities, their clear presentation of competing perspectives on the nature of major urban problems, and their evaluation of possible solutions stand out throughout this work. A beautifully crafted and perceptive volume, it will invigorate the study of urban policy and politics." — Paul Kantor, Professor and Graduate Director, Department of Political Science, Fordham University
"A wide-ranging introductory textbook using a Q&A 'dialogue format' to 'stimulate critical thinking.'." — Future Survey

"A beautifully crafted and perceptive volume, it will invigorate the study of urban policy and politics." - Paul Kantor, Professor and Graduate Director, Department of Political Science, Fordham University

From the Publisher