Fiscal Policy Convergence from Reagan to Blair: The Left Veers Right

by Denzau; Arthur T.

• ISBN13: 9780415324137
• ISBN10: 0415324130
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-12-18
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

It is often assumed that left-of-center governments in the US and Britain supported policies that would lead to ever-increasing public spending and higher taxes. Right-of-center governments, by way of contrast, are expected to support policies that reduce public spending and lower taxes. these characterizations were reinforced with the advent of Reaganomics and Thatcherite economic policy. Despite this assumption, the elections of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair in the 1990s saw the consolidation and completion of critical aspects of the Regan-Thatcher fiscal agenda. This impressive book critically-analyzes this process. It has been previously thought this process of adopting common fiscal policies was caused by economic integration and globalization,Fiscal Policy From Reagan to Blairreveals a much more comprehensive explanation--one that includes domestic factors. Whether fiscal policy conversion is seen as a good or a bad thing, this book shall unite both left and right in betterexplaining the process. Students and academics of international political economy, public policy and politics will find this book to be a good addition to thier reading lists.

Table of Contents

List of illustrations	xiii
Foreword	xv
Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments	xxi
List of abbreviations	xxiii
1 Policy ideas and partisan convergence	1	(22)
2 Paradigms, coalitions, and directional shifts in economic policy	23	(18)
3 Deficit reduction and tax reform in the Reagan-Thatcher era	41	(30)
4 Deficit reduction and tax reform under Clinton and Blair	71	(32)
5 Summary	103	(16)
Notes	119	(18)
Bibliography	137	(8)
Index	145