Crisis and Leviathan : Critical Episodes in the Growth of American Government

Discussing how government has continually grown in size and scope during the past century, this account demonstrates that the main reason lies in government's responses to national "crises" (real or imagined), including economic upheavals and, especially, war. The result, this book argues, is the ever-increasing government power, which endures long after each crisis has passed, impinging on both civil and economic liberties and fostering extensive corporate welfare. Offering ideological explanations for the ascension of the role of government out of a capitalist, free-market economy, it will a.;Cover; Part I. Framework; 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; 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; 3. On Ideology as an Analytical Concept in the Study of Political Economy; What is Ideology? Cover Part I. Framework 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 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 3. On Ideology as an Analytical Concept in the Study of Political Economy What is Ideology? Ideology and Political ActionIdeology in Analysis Ideology and Rhetoric Ideology: Exogenous or Endogenous? Conclusions 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 Stage IV?: A (Partial) Hypothesis on Ideological Change Recapitulation: Why the Ratchet? The Task Ahead Part II. History 5. Crisis under the Old Regime, 1893-1896 Creative Destruction Ideologically Sustained, 1865-1893 Depression and Social Unrest, 1893-1896 Saving the Gold Standard. Maintaining Law and Order in the Labor MarketStriking Down the Income Tax Conclusions 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 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 IdeologicalConclusions 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 9. The Political Economy of War, 1940-1945 De Jure Neutrality, De Facto 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 IdeologicalConclusions 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 11. Retrospect and Prospect Retrospect Prospect Appendix to Chapter 2 Appendix to Chapter 9 Notes Select Bibliography Index Back Cover. "In Crisis and Leviathan, economist and historian Robert Higgs shows how Big Government emerged from responses to national emergencies that occurred as attitudes about the role of government were changing dramatically. In particular, governmental responses to the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Cold War, and various lesser "crises"(real or imagined) led to a host of new federal programs, activities, and functions that left legacies--including greater acceptance of bigger government--that endured long after each crisis passed. The result was not only a higher baseline for further growth, but also a government more intrusive in the lives of ordinary citizens and more resistant to meaningful reform"-- Provided by publisher Discussing how government has continually grown in size and scope during the past century, this account demonstrates that the main reason lies in government's responses to national “crises” (real or imagined), including economic upheavals and, especially, war. The result, this book argues, is the ever-increasing government power, which endures long after each crisis has passed, impinging on both civil and economic liberties and fostering extensive corporate welfare. Offering ideological explanations for the ascension of the role of government out of a capitalist, free-market economy, it will appeal to those with interests in political economy, American history, and libertarian politics.