Wealth and Welfare States: Is America a Laggard or Leader?

This book explores the role of the welfare state in the overall wealth and wellbeing of nations, and in particular looks at the American welfare state in comparison with other developed nations in Europe and elsewhere.

It is widely believed that the welfare state undermines productivity and economic growth, that the United States has an unusually small welfare state, and that it is, and always has been, a welfare state laggard. This book shows that all rich nations, including the United…