There are, then, four differing perspectives on the nature of the employment-related socio-economic problems of urban areas, with different ways of understanding and analysing such problems. These perspectives have developed historically, with particular emphases being prominent at various times. The current occupational activity of employment-oriented local economic development has emerged within this context, and is understood and practised differently, dependent upon the relative emphasis and degree of influence of the different perspectives. Figure 8 shows this process of influence; table 1 summarises key features of each perspective.