Poor America: A Comparative-Historical Study of Poverty in the U.S. and Western Europe

by Samuel J. Eldersveld

Overview

Poor America describes the sharp contrast in the extent of poverty between the United States and six Western European countries. While 36 million Americans live below the poverty line, a much smaller percent of Western Europeans struggle with the same problem. Samuel J. Eldersveld seeks to discover why this variance exists by exploring various theories. To explain the larger percentage of American poor, he tackles the history of poverty in each of the featured countries along with examining the 'system theory' approach, the role of values, the political elite character in the United States compared to Europe, and the differential robes of the business elites in these countries. Poor America follows the issue of poverty through the present day, discussing proposals and prospects for reform in poverty relief in the United States.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780739159286
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	02/09/2007
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	178
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Samuel J. Eldersveld is professor of political science emeritus at the University of Michigan.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 The State of Poverty in the United States and Western Europe: Five Theoretical Approaches Seeking to Explain the Variance
Chapter 3 The Challenge to America: The State of Poor Relief in Western Europe and the United States
Chapter 4 The Historical Experience as a Partial Explanation
Chapter 5 Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values as an Explanation of the Variance
Chapter 6 Political Institutions as Explanations for the Contrast in Anti-Poverty Legislation in Western Europe and the United States
Chapter 7 The Role of Political Elites and the Elite System in Explaining Poverty Relief in the United States and Western Europe
Chapter 8 The Business Elite's Political Role in the United States Compared to Europe
Chapter 9 Historical Studies of Poverty in the United States, The Netherlands, Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, and Sweden
Chapter 10 Early American History of Poverty
Chapter 11 A History of Poverty in Western Europe: The Dutch Experience
Chapter 12 The Early French and Belgian History of Poverty to 1900
Chapter 13 The English Historical Experience with Poverty
Chapter 14 Sweden and Germany's Historical Experience with Poverty
Chapter 15 Final Observations: The Twentieth Century and Today
Chapter 16 The Finalization of Social Reform and Anti-Poverty Legislation in the United States and Western Europe in the 20th Century
Chapter 17 Conclusion: What Are the Prospects?

Editorial Reviews

A worthwhile, thought-provoking book. Recommended.

Choice Reviews

A worthwhile, thought-provoking book. Recommended.

Choice

A worthwhile, thought-provoking book. Recommended.

CHOICE