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  • © 2020

How America Compares

  • Offers an easily consulted reference providing reliable international data with clear and concise interpretations
  • Empirically grounds arguments about trends and comparisons between countries
  • Highlights the differences and similarities between key developed nations
  • Excellent point of reference for political science academics and engaging reading for those interested in comparative politics

Part of the book series: How the World Compares (HWC)

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Table of contents (18 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xxi
  2. People and Life Expectancy

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 1-7
  3. Government and Politics

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 9-28
  4. Economics

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 29-43
  5. Work and Labour

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 45-54
  6. Government Taxes and Spending

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 55-59
  7. Health

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 61-73
  8. Education

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 75-88
  9. Inequality and Social Welfare

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 89-100
  10. Immigration and Refugees

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 101-108
  11. Gender

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 109-116
  12. International Relations

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 117-123
  13. Environment

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 125-135
  14. Science, Technology and the Digital Revolution

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 137-145
  15. Media

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 147-156
  16. Family

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 157-167
  17. Lifestyles and Consumption

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 169-180
  18. Crime and Social Problems

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 181-189
  19. Religion

    • Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O’Connor, Ross Gittins, David Smith
    Pages 191-192

About this book

This book is a reference work with an encyclopedic range, offering contemporary and systematic comparisons between the United States and 17 other economically advanced, stable liberal democracies, as well as some more global comparisons. It offers international data on as many aspects of social life as possible, from taxation to traffic accidents, homicide rates to health expenditure, and interest rates to internet usage. Wherever possible, it offers not only the most recent available data but also trends over decades. 
The discussion focuses on changes over time and comparisons between countries. Sometimes the contrasts are striking; sometimes the commonalities are more instructive. Often national political debates are conducted in a vacuum, and examining  comparative data  on policies, performance, and prospects can give a better perspective. 


Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

    Rodney Tiffen, Anika Gauja, Brendon O'Connor, David Smith

  • Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney, Australia

    Ross Gittins

About the authors

Rodney Tiffen is Emeritus Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities. His research interests include comparative democratic politics,  and mass media. 
David Smith is  a Senior Lecturer jointly appointed between the United States Study Centre and the School of Social and Political Sciences. His research examines political relations between states and minorities with a focus on religion in the US. He is a regular commentator in the Australian media on American politics.
 
Brendon O’Connor is Associate Professor at the United States Studies Centre (USSC), University of Sydney. He is the coordinator of the University’s American Studies program and the Director of the Faculty Scholars Program. His research focuses on anti-Americanism, American welfare policy, presidential politics, US foreign policy, and Australian–American relations.
 
Ross Gittins is one of the leading economic commentators in Australia, and has been the Economics Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald for over 30 years. He has authored or co-authored ten books, most recently Gittins: A Life among the Budgets, Bulldust and Bastardry.
 
Anika Gauja is Associate Professor in the Department of Government and International Relations, University of Sydney. Her research interests centre on the comparative analysis of political institutions in modern representative democracies, specifically looking at the operation of political parties and legislatures, assessing the continuing relevance of these institutions as mechanisms for citizen participation in politics and their ability to represent diverse and conflicting interests

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 24.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 32.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access