Rich democracies : political economy, public policy, and performance / Harold L. Wilensky.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilensky, Harold L.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Welfare state--Case studies.

Welfare state.

Comparative government.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (925 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, c2002.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In this landmark work, the culmination of 30 years of systematic, comprehensive comparison of 19 rich democracies, Wilensky answers two basic questions: (1) What is distinctly modern about modern societies--in what ways are they becoming alike? (2) How do variations in types of political economy shape system performance? He specifies similarities and differences in the structure and interplay of government, political parties, the mass media, industry, labor, professions, agriculture, churches, and voluntary associations. He then demonstrates how differences in bargaining arrangements among these groups lead to contrasting policy profiles and patterns of taxing and spending, which in turn explain a large number of outcomes: economic performance, political legitimacy, equality, job security, safety and risk, real health, the reduction of poverty and environmental threats, and the effectiveness and fairness of regulatory regimes. Drawing on quantitative data and case studies covering the last 50 years and more than 400 interviews he conducted with top decision-makers and advisors, Wilensky provides a richly detailed account of the common social, economic, and labor problems modern governments confront and their contrasting styles of conflict resolution. The result is new light on the likely paths of development of rich democracies as they become richer. Assessing alternative theories, Wilensky offers a powerful critique of such images of modern society as "post-industrial" or "high-tech," "the information age" or the alleged dominance of "globalization. "Because he systematically compares all of the rich democracies with at least three million population, Wilensky can specify what is truly exceptional about the United States, what it shares with Britain and Britain abroad (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) and what it shares with all or almost all of the West European democracies, Israel, and Japan. He gives careful attention to which successful social and labor policies are transferable across nations and which are not. Rich Democracies will interest both scholars and practitioners. It combines the perspectives of political economy (the interplay of markets and politics) and political sociology (the social bases of politics). It will be especially useful in courses on comparative political economy, comparative politics, European politics, public policy, political sociology, the welfare state, American government, advanced industrial societies, and industrial relations.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

FIGURES

TABLES

PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

1. CONVERGENCE THEORY

2. TYPES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY

3. MASS SOCIETY, PARTICIPATION, AND THE MASS MEDIA

4. THEORIES OF THE POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY

5. THE WELFARE STATE: CONVERGENCE AND DIVERGENCE

6. SECTOR SPENDING AND PROGRAM EMPHASIS

7. TYPES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, PARTY IDEOLOGY, AND FAMILY POLICY: CONTRASTING GOVERNMENT RESPONSES TO A COMMON PROBLEM

8. THE AMERICAN WELFARE MESS IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

9. BUREAUCRATIC EFFICIENCY AND BLOAT

10. TAX-WELFARE BACKLASH: HOW TO TAX, SPEND, AND YET KEEP COOL

11. ARE POLITICAL PARTIES DECLINING? AN ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL VARIATION IN DEALIGNMENT

12. TYPES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, SPENDING, TAXING, AND ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

13. THE GREAT AMERICAN JOB MACHINE IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

14. RISK AND SAFETY: AMERICAN MAYHEM IN COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

15. TYPES OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, REGULATORY REGIMES, AND THE ENVIRONMENT

16. HEALTH PERFORMANCE: AFFLUENCE, POLITICAL ECONOMY, AND PUBLIC POLICY AS SOURCES OF REAL HEALTH

17. GLOBALIZATION: DOES IT SUBVERT JOB SECURITY, LABOR STANDARDS, AND THE WELFARE STATE?

18. AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS

APPENDIX A: METHODS

APPENDIX B: CONCEPTS AND MEASURES OF LEFT AND CATHOLIC PARTY POWER

APPENDIX C: SOCIAL SPENDING, GNP, TAX EXPENDITURES, AND HOUSING EXPENDITURES

APPENDIX D: SECTOR SPENDING CORRELATIONS

APPENDIX E: FAMILY POLICY

APPENDIX F: ESTIMATING RELIANCE ON MEANS TESTING

APPENDIX G: MEASURES OF ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE

APPENDIX H: MEASURES OF CENTRAL BANK AUTONOMY

APPENDIX I: MAYHEM INDEX, MOBILITY-MERITOCRACY INDEX, AND MINORITY-GROUP CLEAVAGES

APPENDIX J: PUBLIC EMPLOYEES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN:

9786612759031

9781282759039

1282759035

9781597348737

1597348732

9780520928336

0520928334

OCLC:

475931267