Selling Hope: State Lotteries in America / Edition 1

by Charles T. Clotfelter, Philip J. Cook

Overview

With its huge jackpots and heartwarming rags-to-riches stories, the lottery has become the hope and dream of millions of Americans—and the fastest-growing source of state revenue. Despite its popularity, however, there remains much controversy over whether this is an appropriate business for state government and, if so, how this business should be conducted.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674800984
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	10/01/1991
Series:	State Lotteries in America
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Charles T. Clotfelter is Z. Smith Reynolds Professor of Public Policy Studies at Duke University.

Philip J. Cook is ITT/Terry Sanford Professor of Public Policy and Professor of Economics and Sociology at Duke University.

Editorial Reviews

Although Selling Hope is a serious work of economic research, the authors bring a lively curiosity and an engaging style of writing to their work… I found Selling Hope to be enlightening, even entertaining at times, and full of good reason for outrage over the lottery.

Los Angeles Times - Jonathan Kirsch

This book had me grinding my teeth, muttering under my breath, underlining like crazy, and littering the margins with exclamation points… Lottery agencies are looking for ever more attractive forms of gambling—like tapping into professional sports. It’s not too late to head off such questionable activity… Selling Hope should be required reading for anybody in a position to decide such issues.

Christian Science Monitor - Brad Knickerbocker

Immensely valuable… Scholars and public policy officials and analysts should quickly obtain this book. Even religious leaders should read it. Undoubtedly this landmark work will define the debate in the 1990s over establishing and maintaining lotteries in the United States.

Social Science Quarterly - David E. R. Gay

Whatever the criteria, this is a superb book…it has earned the right to be the basis from which public policy debates on the controversial issues can and should take place.

Choice - A. R. Sanderson

The first comprehensive examination of publicly operated lotteries as a business and public revenue source. There is discussion of the current status of lotteries, as well as the historic, economic, and social processes that have driven the growth of the industry. Attention is paid to the irony of public agencies designing products tailored to exploit the gambling propensities of their citizens, particularly the disadvantaged. Is this an appropriate business for government? With many tables and excellent notes. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews