Description
Book SynopsisProvides an account of the common social, economic, and labor problems modern governments confront and their contrasting styles of conflict resolution. This work specifies similarities and differences in the structure and interplay of government, political parties, the mass media, industry, labor, professions, churches and voluntary associations.
Trade Review"Rich Democracies will be an instant classic. Chock full of new findings, it is a model of broad comparative research, combining quantitative analysis, case studies, and historical context. The conclusion that consensual decision-making serves a nation's citizens better than confrontation has enormous practical relevance for designing democratic institutions." - Arend Lijphart, former President of the American Political Science Association "A truly amazing accomplishment.... A comprehensive treatment of structure and change in modern societies.... Always addressing central questions in the social sciences, relentlessly comparative, Wilensky provides a powerful explanation of similarities and differences in the institutions, policies, and performance of rich democracies." - Neil Smelser, Director, Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
Table of ContentsList of Figures List of Tables List of Appendices Preface and Acknowledgments PART I: PATHS OF DEVELOPMENT OF RICH DEMOCRACIES CHAPTER 1 Convergence Theory CHAPTER 2 Types of Political Economy CHAPTER 3 Mass Society, Participation, and the Mass Media CHAPTER 4 Theories of the Postindustrial Society PART II: THE WELFARE STATE AND SOCIAL POLICY CHAPTER 5 The Welfare State: Convergence and Divergence CHAPTER 6 Sector Spending and Program Emphasis CHAPTER 7 Types of Political Economy, Party Ideology, and Family Policy: Contrasting Government Responses to a Common Problem CHAPTER 8 The American Welfare Mess in Comparative Perspective CHAPTER 9 Bureaucratic Efficiency and Bloat PART III: SYSTEM PERFORMANCE CHAPTER 10 Tax-Welfare Backlash: How to Tax, Spend, and Yet Keep Cool CHAPTER 11 Are Political Parties Declining? An Analysis of National Variation in Dealignment CHAPTER 12 Types of Political Economy, Spending, Taxing, and Economic Performance CHAPTER 13 The Great American Job Machine in Comparative Perspective CHAPTER 14 Risk and Safety: American Mayhem in Comparative Perspective CHAPTER 15 Types of Political Economy, Regulatory Regimes, and the Environment CHAPTER 16 Health Performance: Affluence, Political Economy, and Public Policy as Sources of Real Health CHAPTER 17 Globalization: Does It Subvert Labor Standards, the Welfare State, and Job Security? CHAPTER 18 American Exceptionalism and Policy Implications Conclusion APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
