Political Parties, Games and Redistribution

An analysis of the impact of party politics on income redistribution policy in liberal democracies.

Rosa Mulé (Author)

9780521793582, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 8 January 2001

270 pages, 2 b/w illus. 3 tables
22.9 x 15.2 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

'This is a complex, provocative and theoretically sophisticated book that breaks new ground in the study of income redistribution policy and presents a powerful argument about the relevance of intra-party conflict to the development of redistributive politics in four liberal democracies during the past three decades.' Democratization

This book explores the impact of political parties on income redistribution policy in liberal democracies. Rosa Mulé illustrates how public policy on inequality is influenced by strategic interactions among party leaders, rather than responses to social constituencies. Using game theory in detailed case studies of intraparty conflicts, Mulé evaluates her findings against a broad range of theories - political business cycle, median convergence, 'shrinking middle class' and demographic movements. She analyses trends in income inequality in selected OECD countries since the 1970s and provides in-depth examinations of Canada, Australia, Britain and the United States. Her methodology effectively blends sophisticated quantitative techniques with qualitative, analytic narratives. In evaluating both the impact of intraparty cohesion and ideology on redistributive policy, and trends in income inequality, this book brings a unique perspective to those interested in the study of public policy and political parties.

Introduction
1. Political parties and redistribution
2. Opposition effects, blackmail game and u-turns under Pierre Elliot Trudeau
3. The arithmetics of politics under Margaret Thatcher
4. Rightwing ascendancy, pivotal player and asymmetric power under Bob Hawke
5. The demise of the federal social safety net under Clinton
6. Conclusions.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP]