Degrees of Freedom : Canada and the United States in a Changing World

The book's primary aim is to determine whether Canada and the United States have become more similar as their economies have become more integrated and their societies more diverse. The authors conclude that, although powerful economic and social pressures clearly constrain national governments and lead to convergence in some areas, distinctive cultural and political processes preserve room for distinctive national responses to important problems of the late twentieth century. Authors include Keith Banting, Paul Boothe (University of Alberta), Marsha Chandler (University of Toronto), George Hoberg, Robert Howse (University of Toronto), Christopher Manfredi (McGill University), George Perlin (Queen's University), Douglas Purvis (Queen's University), Richard Simeon, and Elaine Willis (consultant, Toronto). Frontmatter Tables (page vii) Figures (page xi) Acknowledgments (page xv) 1 Introduction (Keith Banting, George Hoberg, and Richard Simeon, page 3) PART ONE THE CHANGING WORLD OF CANADA AND THE UNITED STATES 2 Changing Economies, Changing Societies (Keith Banting and Richard Simeon, page 23) 3 The Constraints of Public Opinion: Diverging or Converging Paths? (George Perlin, page 71) 4 Democracy and Performance: Governance in Canada and the United States (Richard Simeon and Elaine Willis, page 150) PART TWO POLICY RESPONSES 5 Macroeconomic Policy in Canada and the United States: Independence, Transmission, and Effectiveness (Paul Boothe and Douglas Purvis, page 189) 6 Industrial Policy in Canada and the United States (Robert Howse and Marsha Chandler, page 231) 7 The Social Policy Divide: The Welfare State in Canada and the United States (Keith Banting, page 267) 8 The Judicialization of Politics: Rights and Public Policy in Canada and the United States (Christopher Manfredi, page 310) 9 Governing the Environment: Comparing Canada and the United States (George Hoberg, page 341) PART THREE CONCLUSIONS 10 Globalization, Fragmentation, and the Social Contract (Richard Simeon, George Hoberg, and Keith Banting, page 389) Notes (page 417) Bibliography (page 433) Contributors (page 483) Index (page 485) "A comparative study of Canadian and American responses to the changing international economy and to changing patterns of social diversity in domestic society, Degrees of Freedom traces the impact of these pressures on the economic and social structure, culture, political institutions, and policy regimes of the two countries." "The book's primary aim is to determine whether Canada and the United States have become more similar as their economies have become more integrated and their societies more diverse. The authors conclude that although powerful economic and social pressures clearly constrain national governments and lead to convergence in some areas, distinctive cultural and political processes preserve room for distinctive national responses to important problems of the late twentieth century."--Résumé de l'éditeur "A comparative study of Canadian and American responses to the changing international economy and to changing patterns of social diversity in domestic society, Degrees of Freedom traces the impact of these pressures on the economic and social structure, culture, political institutions, and policy regimes of the two countries." "The book's primary aim is to determine whether Canada and the United States have become more similar as their economies have become more integrated and their societies more diverse. The authors conclude that although powerful economic and social pressures clearly constrain national governments and lead to convergence in some areas, distinctive cultural and political processes preserve room for distinctive national responses to important problems of the late twentieth century."--Jacket