American political economy in global perspective

Part I. Globalization, Public Policy, and the Wellbeing of People: 1. The welfare state as the center of public finance and political conflict; 2. Energy policy and performance: the United States and the world; 3. What tradeoffs are good and bad for the economy?: domestic structures and policies that permit adaptation to globalization; 4. Retrenchment of the welfare state? the fate of 'cutback budgeting' in Italy, France, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand; 5. Pensions coverage, U.S. health care remains unique; 6. The impact of 'globalization': an overview

Part II. Moving the United States off the Low Road: Lessons from Abroad: 7. Low road vs high road: American exceptionalism; 8. Policy implications for the United States: how to get off the low road.