Stuck in Neutral : Business and the Politics of Human Capital Investment Policy

According to conventional wisdom, big business wields enormous influence over America's political agenda and is responsible for the relatively limited scale of the country's social policies. In Stuck in Neutral, however, Cathie Jo Martin challenges that view, arguing that big business has limited involvement in social policy and in many instances desires broader social interventions. Combining hundreds of in-depth interviews with careful quantitative analysis, Martin shows that there is strong support among managers for government-sponsored training, health, work, and family initiatives to enhance workers' skills and productivity. This support does not translate into political action, surprisingly, because big firms are not organized to intervene effectively. Every large company has its own staff to deal with government affairs, but overarching organizations for the most part lobby ineffectively for the collective interests of big business in the social realm. By contrast, small firms, which cannot afford to lobby the government directly, rely on representative associations to speak for them. The unified voice of small business comes through much more clearly in policy circles than the diverse messages presented by individual corporations, ensuring that the small-business agenda of limited social policy prevails. A vivid portrayal of the interplay between business and politics, Stuck in Neutral offers a fresh take on some of the most controversial issues of our day. It is a must read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of the American welfare state and political economy. Annotation According To Conventional Wisdom, Big Business Wields Enormous Influence Over America's Political Agenda And Is Responsible For The Relatively Limited Scale Of The Country's Social Policies. In Stuck In Neutral, However, Cathie Jo Martin Challenges That View, Arguing That Big Business Has Limited Involvement In Social Policy And In Many Instances Desires Broader Social Interventions.combining Hundreds Of In-depth Interviews With Careful Quantitative Analysis, Martin Shows That There Is Strong Support Among Managers For Government-sponsored Training, Health, Work, And Family Initiatives To Enhance Workers' Skills And Productivity. This Support Does Not Translate Into Political Action, Surprisingly, Because Big Firms Are Not Organized To Intervene Effectively. Every Large Company Has Its Own Staff To Deal With Government Affairs, But Overarching Organizations For The Most Part Lobby Ineffectively For The Collective Interests Of Big Business In The Social Realm. By Contrast, Small Firms, Which Cannot Afford To Lobby The Government Directly, Rely On Representative Associations To Speak For Them. The Unified Voice Of Small Business Comes Through Much More Clearly In Policy Circles Than The Diverse Messages Presented By Individual Corporations, Ensuring That The Small-business Agenda Of Limited Social Policy Prevails.a Vivid Portrayal Of The Interplay Between Business And Politics, Stuck In Neutral Offers A Fresh Take On Some Of The Most Controversial Issues Of Our Day. It Is A Must Read For Anyone Interested In The Past, Present, And Future Of The American Welfare State And Political Economy. 1. Business And The Politics Of Human Capital Investment -- 2. A Century Of Business Involvement In Social Provision -- 3. Nature Or Nurture? Company Preferences For National Health Reform -- 4. On The Bus: Business Organization In Training And Work-family Issues -- 5. The Least-common-denominator Business Community: Corporate Engagement With Health Policy -- 6. United We Stand: Corporate Engagement With Training Policy -- 7. An Affair To Remember: Small Business And The Republican Party Against Family Leave -- 8. Implications For Our Economic Future. Cathie Jo Martin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Annotation According to conventional wisdom, big business wields enormous influence over America's political agenda and is responsible for the relatively limited scale of the country's social policies. In Stuck in Neutral, however, Cathie Jo Martin challenges that view, arguing that big business has limited involvement in social policy and in many instances desires broader social interventions.Combining hundreds of in-depth interviews with careful quantitative analysis, Martin shows that there is strong support among managers for government-sponsored training, health, work, and family initiatives to enhance workers' skills and productivity. This support does not translate into political action, surprisingly, because big firms are not organized to intervene effectively. Every large company has its own staff to deal with government affairs, but overarching organizations for the most part lobby ineffectively for the collective interests of big business in the social realm. By contrast, small firms, which cannot afford to lobby the government directly, rely on representative associations to speak for them. The unified voice of small business comes through much more clearly in policy circles than the diverse messages presented by individual corporations, ensuring that the small-business agenda of limited social policy prevails. A vivid portrayal of the interplay between business and politics, Stuck in Neutral offers a fresh take on some of the most controversial issues of our day. It is a must read for anyone interested in the past, present, and future of the American welfare state and political economy SOCIAL-WELFARE interventions in the United States are commonly thought of as minimalist efforts to protect the destitute from the ills of abject poverty.