Comparing Public Policies : Issues and Choices in Six Industrialized Countries

How do the public policies of the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom stack up against one another? Comparing Public Policies combines a conceptual discussion of policy-making with an examination of seven specific policy areas using a cross-national perspective. Adolino and Blake strike a balance between policy analysis and description as they provide students with a helpful mix of analytical tools and background information.

The book begins with a concise overview of the policy process and then considers the role of cultural, economic, political, and institutional influences on policy-making. A brief chapter describes the political system of the six countries and provides necessary context. The core of the book is devoted to seven policy areas: immigration, fiscal policy, taxation, health care, social policy, education, and the environment. Each chapter shares a common framework that begins with an introduction to a policy topic, follows with its examination in each country, and concludes with an analysis of cross-national trends-past and present-in policy choices, outcomes, and dynamics. A final chapter re-examines the internationalization of public policy in industrialized countries. Adolino and Blake also consider how policymakers use this comparative perspective to guide them in their policy choices and help them pursue those choices within the political process.

Useful pedagogical features have been incorporated throughout the text. "In Depth" boxes offer students a more detailed discussion of a policy issue, political process, or analytical technique while "Country At-a-Glance" boxes provide quick reference to the political institutions of each country. A wealth of recent data is displayed in numerous tables and a glossary gives students a practical guide to terminology.

Jessica R. Adolino is assistant professor of political science at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where she teaches courses on Western European politics and International Affairs. Her research interests primarily lie in the area of British politics and has recently published a book in this area, Ethnic Minorities, Electoral Politics and Political Integration in Britain (1998).

Charles H. Blake is associate professor at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia where he specializes in comparative politics international relations, comparative public policy, and research methods. His research agenda focuses primarily on political economy issues in Latin America and Europe. His work on comparative politics has been published in a variety of journals and he is currently conducting research on market-oriented economic reform in Argentina and Uruguay with a fellowship from the Organization of American States.