First published 2005
Edward Glaeser tackles the stark differences between how America and Europe fight poverty and inequality. His study reveals two continents with fundamentally different approaches to state intervention and income redistribution. Glaeser explores economic factors that drive these differences, from pre-tax income levels to social mobility and trade openness. He examines political and historical influences, including nation size, electoral systems, legal frameworks, party structures, and wartime experiences. The analysis extends to sociological factors, particularly contrasting attitudes toward the poor, concepts of social responsibility, and most significantly, racial dynamics. Glaeser's comprehensive approach illuminates why two wealthy regions have developed such divergent strategies for addressing domestic inequality.
Genres: political-science, economics, poverty, social-issues, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: comparative-analysis
Setting: Europe, United States
Period: 21st-century
262 pages · Paperback · Oxford University Press