Growing Public examines the question of whether social policies that redistribute income impose constraints on economic growth. Taxes and transfers have been debated for centuries, but only now can we get a clear view of the whole evolution of social spending. What kept prospering nations from using...

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Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Lindert, Peter H. 1940- (Author)
Format:	Book
Language:	English
Published:	Cambridge [u.a.] Cambridge Univ. Press
Subjects:	Geschichte 1780-1995 Dépenses publiques - Politique gouvernementale - Histoire - Cas, Études de Paiements de transfert - Histoire - Cas, Études de Revenu - Répartition - Histoire - Cas, Études de Économie du bien-être - Histoire - Cas, Études de Geschichte Government spending policy > History > Case studies Income distribution > History > Case studies Transfer payments > History > Case studies Welfare economics > History > Case studies Wirtschaftswachstum Sozialausgaben Einkommensumverteilung Fallstudiensammlung
Summary:	Growing Public examines the question of whether social policies that redistribute income impose constraints on economic growth. Taxes and transfers have been debated for centuries, but only now can we get a clear view of the whole evolution of social spending. What kept prospering nations from using taxes for social programs until the end of the nineteenth century? Why did taxes and spending then grow so much, and what are the prospects for social spending in this century? Why did North America become a leader in public education in some ways and not others? Lindert finds answers in the economic history and logic of political voice, population aging, and income growth. Contrary to traditional beliefs, the net national costs of government social programs are virtually zero. (Midwest).