This review of perspectives on the current status and policy issues of urban America is divided into nine chapters, each of which includes a bibliography. Chapter one presents an overview of the postindustrial demographic and economic changes in the United States and the Federal government's response to these changes. The ongoing transformation of cities is examined in chapter two. Chapter three discusses the logic, dynamics, and consequences of economic and demographic deconcentration in cities, suburbs, nonmetropolitan areas and multistate regions. The economic consequences of industrial disinvestment for specific localities and the resultinq fiscal consequences for local governments are addressed in chapter four. Chapter five focuses on social problems and the effect of industrial transformation on the urban underclass. The remaining chapters examine Federal urban policy directions, methods of developing long-term policies and ways of involving the States in intergovernmental partnerships required to meet policy objectives. (JCD)