 |
Contents |
CRISIS AND LEVIATHAN: Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government
by Robert Higgs
Foreword by Arthur A. Ekirch, Jr.
Part I. Framework
Chapter 1. The Sources of Big Government: A Critical Survey of Hypotheses
Explanations of the Growth of Government
Modernization/Public Goods/The Welfare State/Political
Redistribution/Ideology/Crisis
Conclusions
Chapter 2. How Much Has Government Grown? Conventional Measures and an Alternative View
Conventional Measures of the Growth of Government
The Essence of Big Government: An Alternative View
Ratchets: Conventional Measures versus Fundamentals
Conclusions
Chapter 3. On Ideology as an Analytical Concept in the Study of Political Economy
What Is Ideology?
Ideology and Political Action
Ideology in Analysis
Ideology and Rhetoric
Ideology: Exogenous or Endogenous?
Conclusions
Chapter 4. Crisis, Bigger Government, and Ideological Change: Toward an Understanding of the Ratchet
A Schematic View of the Problem
Why Stage II? A Cost-Concealment Hypothesis
Why State IV? A (Partial) Hypothesis on Ideological Change
The Task Ahead
Part II. History
Chapter 5. Crisis Under the Old Regime, 1893-1896
Creative Destruction Ideologically Sustained, 1865-1893
Depression and Social Unrest, 1893-1896
Serving the Gold Standard
Maintaining Law and Order in the Labor Market
Striking Down the Income Tax
Conclusions
Chapter 6. The Progressive Era: A Bridge to Modern Times
Economic Development and Political Change, 1898-1916
The Ideological Winds Shift
End and Beginning: The Railroad Labor Troubles, 1916-1917
Conclusions
Chapter 7. The Political Economy of War, 1916-1918
Neutral Prosperity and the Shipping Crisis
The Preparedness Controversy and New Governmental Powers
War and Conscription
Manipulating the Market Economy: The Major Agencies
Labor Problems and the Railroad Takeover
Supreme Court Rulings on War Measures
Legacies, Institutional and Ideological
Conclusions
Chapter 8. The Great Depression: “An Emergency More Serious Than War”
Economic Rise and Fall, 1922-1933
What Did Hoover Do?
Interregnum of Despair
Emergency, Emergency!
Planting the First New Deal: The Hundred Days
Cultivating and Pruning the First New Deal: The Supreme Court
Legacies, Institutional and Ideological
Conclusions
Chapter 9. The Political Economy of War, 1940-1945
De Jure Neutrality, De Factor Belligerency, 1939-1941
More Powers and Price Controls
The Armed Forces and the Economy
Work or Fight
The Supreme Court Also Goes to War
Legacies, Institutional and Ideological
Conclusions
Chapter 10. Crisis and Leviathan: From World War II to the 1980s
The Mixed Economy: March into Socialism or Fascism?
Crisis and Leviathan: The Recent Episodes
Conclusions
Chapter 11. Retrospect and Prospect
Retrospect
Prospect
Appendices
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index