I know of no other work of scholarship that takes on this topic with such scope, magnitude, impartiality, and historical breadth. The author's approach is both theoretical and empirical, and the author presents a non-ideological and dispassionate analysis on a subject on which most people disagree. What is remarkable is Spulber's ability to carry major trends through the late 1990s - a feat that requires careful evaluation of current non-scholarly writings. Spulber's is one of the best explanations of events in transition Russia. I think this book will find its audience among economic historians, students of comparative economics, and general economists, historians, and political scientists. Paul Gregory, University of Houston
This excellent book establishes an original and unusual connection between welfare reform and the dismantling of state enterprise, as well as the limitation of government function at all levels, as forms of the general phenomenon of downsizing of the state. It is impressively thorough and rich with evidence and general information; it has great topicality and immediate policy relevance. D. Mario Nuti, University of Rome, `La Sapienza' and the London Business School
The importance of the two issues - transition in the East, the downsizing of the state in the West - this work addresses need not be stressed. A large literature is dedicated to each of them. Nicolas Spulber's book is special, however, inasmuch as it considers the two sets of issues in parallel and under a perspective which is mainly historical. I think this is a most welcome addition to the available literature. Pierre Salmon, University of Bourgogne
If you're looking for a crisp overview of the role of the state in the West and the East over two centuries, this book is a great place to begin. And if you want to dig deeper in any area, just follow the author's up-to-date and comprehensive citations. Ravi Ramamurti, Business History Review
