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Unequal Democracy Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age the Political Economy of the New Gilded Age

by Larry M Bartels

Unequal Democracy Unequal Democracy: The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age the Political Economy of the New Gilded Age Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Review:

The most important issue rarely mentioned on the campaign trail this year is the gap between rich and poor in America. It is important for two reasons: The gap has been growing, and the choice between John McCain and Barack Obama likely will affect whether it narrows or expands.

That is the conclusion of "Unequal Democracy," a provocative new book by Princeton professor Larry M. Bartels,... Washington Post Book Review (read the entire Washington Post review)

Review:

Many Americans know that there are characteristic policy differences between the [Republican and Democratic] parties. But few are aware of two important facts about the post-World War II era, both of which are brilliantly delineated in a new book, , by Larry M. Bartels, a professor of political science at Princeton. Understanding them might help voters see what could be at stake, economically speaking, in November.

Review:

is the sort of book to which every political scientist should aspire--it is methodologically rigorous, conceptually serious, and above all, it addresses urgent concerns of our fellow citizens. As Bartels shows, much of what we think we know about the politics of economic inequality is dead wrong. Bartels's perplexing and often unexpected discoveries should help refocus the gathering public debate about inequality and what to do about it.

Review:

completes the story of why America's wealthy have become superrich. As Larry Bartels, one of the nation's top political scientists, convincingly demonstrates, the rich get richer when the Republicans are in power and when the less affluent fail to vote. This book is essential reading for anyone who wants answers to why so many of America's working- and middle-class families are struggling to get by.

Review:

This is a fantastic book, a real tour de force. It is a hugely important study of increasing economic inequality in America and the failure of the political system to mitigate its effects on poor citizens. It is the best work that has been done on the political economy of income inequality.

Review:

[A] provocative new book by Princeton professor Larry M. Bartels, one of the country's leading political scientists. One of Bartels's most intriguing conclusions is that the political timing of economic growth has influenced voters. Republican presidents...have often generated significant economic growth rates in presidential election years, while Democratic presidents have not.

About the Author

Larry M. Bartels is the Donald E. Stokes Professor of Public and International Affairs and director of the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton University.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Chapter 1. The New Gilded Age 1

Escalating Economic Inequality 6

Interpreting Inequality 13

Economic Inequality as a Po litical Issue 19

Inequality and American Democracy 23

Chapter 2. The Partisan Political Economy 29

Partisan Patterns of Income Growth 31

A Partisan Coincidence? 34

Partisan Differences in Macroeconomic Policy 42

Macroeconomic Per for mance and Income Growth 47

Partisan Policies and Post- Tax Income Growth 54

Democrats, Republicans, and the Rise of In equality 61

Chapter 3. Class Politics and Partisan Change 64

In Search of the Working Class 66

Has the White Working Class Abandoned the Democratic Party? 72

Have Working- Class Whites Become More Conservative? 78

Do "Moral Values" Trump Economics? 83

Are Religious Voters Distracted from Economic Issues? 90

Class Politics, Alive and Well 93

Chapter 4. Partisan Biases in Economic Accountability 98

Myopic Voters 99

The Political Timing of Income Growth 104

Class Biases in Economic Voting 110

The Wealthy Give Something Back: Partisan Biases in Campaign Spending 116

Political Consequences of Biased Accountability 120

Chapter 5. Do Americans Care about In equality? 127

Egalitarian Values 130

Rich and Poor 136

Perceptions of Inequality 143

Facts and Values in the Realm of In equality 148

Chapter 6. Homer Gets a Tax Cut 162

The Bush Tax Cuts 164

Public Support for the Tax Cuts 170

Unenlightened Self- Interest 176

The Impact of Political Information 181

Chump Change 186

Into the Sunset 193

Chapter 7. The Strange Appeal of Estate Tax Repeal 197

Public Support for Estate Tax Repeal 198

Is Public Support for Repeal a Product of Misinformation? 205

Did Interest Groups Manufacture Public Antipathy to the Estate Tax? 214

Elite Ideology and the Politics of Estate Tax Repeal 217

Chapter 8. The Eroding Minimum Wage 223

The Economic Effects of the Minimum Wage 227

Public Support for the Minimum Wage 229

The Politics of Inaction 232

Democrats, Unions, and the Eroding Minimum Wage 239

The Earned Income Tax Credit 246

Reversing the Tide 247

Chapter 9. Economic Inequality and Po litical Representation 252

Ideological Representation 254

Unequal Responsiveness 257

Unequal Responsiveness on Social Issues: The Case of Abortion 265

Partisan Differences in Repre sen ta tion 267

Why Are the Poor Unrepresented? 275

10. Unequal Democracy 283

Who Governs? 285

Partisan Politics and the "Have- Nots" 288

Political Obstacles to Economic Equality 294

The City of Utmost Necessity 298

Selected References 305

Index 317

Product Details

ISBN:
9780691136639
Subtitle:
The Political Economy of the New Gilded Age
Author:
Bartels, Larry M
Author:
Bartels, Larry M.
Publisher:
Princeton University Press
Location:
Princeton
Subject:
Equality
Subject:
History
Subject:
Economic Conditions
Subject:
Public Policy - Economic Policy
Subject:
General Political Science
Subject:
Political Science and International Relations
Subject:
Economics
Subject:
United States Economic conditions 1945-
Subject:
Political culture -- United States -- History.
Copyright:
Publication Date:
April 2008
Binding:
Hardcover
Grade Level:
College/higher education:
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
325
Dimensions:
9 x 6 in

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