About the Book
Solutions to Social Problems is the only reader on the market to look at how other countries solve their social problems in order to help the U.S. solve its own. These 35 interesting, and insightful articles are organized around 13 problem areas, such as poverty and health care. Each section is introduced with a US comparison, to give the reader proper context. The third edition features a new section on sexual orientation. Twenty-three additional new selections address topics that include: early retirement, work-life policies and programs in Europe, best practices for reducing crime, taxes on wealth, U.S. vs. Australian fisheries, wind power. Related titles: Social Problems, Resaerch Edition by D. Stanley Eitzen and Maxine Baca Zinn (0-205-39879-0)
Table of Contents:
* Denotes selections new to this edition. All chapters begin with a section, “The United States Context.”I. INTRODUCTION.
1. The Comparative Approach to Social Problems.
“U.S. Social Problem in Comparative Perspective,” D. Stanley Eitzen and Craig S. Leedham, (2003).“The Swedish Welfare State,” D. Stanley Eitzen, (2003).*“When Cutting Taxes is Risky Business,” Anotole Kaletsky, The Times (London), (2001).*“The Rule of Common Sense,”The Economist, (2002).*II. PROBLEMS OF INEQUALITY.
2. Poverty.
“ The State of Welfare at Home and Abroad,”Australian Financial Review, (2001).*“Whats Wrong with Current Poverty Policies?” Randy Albelda and Chris Tilly, excerpt Glass Ceilings and Bottomless Pits, (1997).“Widening Welfare: Means Testing the Better Off is Fair,”The Guardian (London), (2002).*3. Income Inequality.
“A Better Kind of Wealth Tax,” Leon Friedman, The American Prospect, (2000).*“For CEOs, a Minimum Wage in the Millions,” Holy Sklar, Z-Magazine, (1999).“Toward an Apartheid Economy,” Richard B. Freeman, Harvard Business Review, (1996).4. Gender.
“Europe Crawls Ahead,” Megal Rowling, In These Times, (2002).*“ Swedish Sojourn,” Susan Faludi, Ms. (1996).5. Sexual Orientation.*
“Dutch Legalize Same-Sex Spouses,” Keith B. Richburg, The Washington Post, (2000).*“Military Homophobia,” Joshua S. Godstein, excerpt from War and Gender, (2001).*“Same-Sex Spouses,” E.J. Graff, The Nation, (1999).*6. Aged.
“Alternative To Early Retirement,” Alison Maitland, Financial Times (London), (2001).*“We Should Rejoice in an Ageing Society, So Long as We Plan for It,” Hamish Mcrae, The Independent (London), (2002).*III. INSTITUTIONAL PROBLEMS.
7. Families.
“Caring for Our Young: Child Care in Europe and the United States,” Dan Clawson and Naomi Gerstel, Contexts, (2002).*“Support for Working Families: What the United States Can Learn from Europe,” Jenet C. Gornick and Marcia K. Meyers, The American Prospect, (2001).*“Family-Friendly Europe,” Karen Christopher, The American Prospect, (2002).*8. Schools.
“A Cautionary Tale from New Zealand,” Edward Fiske and Helen F. Ladd, New York Times, (2000).*“Globalization and Education: What Students Will Need to Know and Be Able to Do in the Global Village,” R.D. Nordgren, Phi Delta Kappan, (2002).*9. Work.
“Finland Experiments with a Six-Hour Work Day,” Ellen Mutari and Deborah M. Figart,”Dollars & Sense, (2001).*“Inclusion and Democracy,” Elaine Bernard, Paper given that the American Federation of Musicians Leadership Conference, (1998).*10. Health Care and Delivery.
“Health Care Facts: A Comparison of the Canadian and U.S. Health Systems,”Toronto Health Coalition, (2000-01).*“International Health Systems,” Physicians for a National Health Program, (post-2000 Web site article).*IV. PROBLEMS OF PEOPLE, RESOURCES, AND PLACE.
11. Cities.
“Suburbia Stays in the Neighborhood,” Haya El Nasser, USA Today, (2000).*“Metropolis Unbound: The Sprawling American City and the Search for Alternatives,” Robert Geddes, The American Prospect, (1997).“Americas Rush to Suburbia,” Kenneth T. Jackson, New York Times, (1996).12. Environment.
“A Tale of Two Fisheries (U.S. and Australia),” John Tierney, New York Times, (2000).*“Wind Power Picks Up as it Crosses the Atlantic,” Ellen Hale, USA Today, (2002).*“Cleaner Than Cows: Pollution-Free Electricity Has Arrived in Germany,” David Case, Progressive Populist, (2001).*V. INDIVIDUAL DEVIANCE.
13. Crime and Crime Control.
“Crime Comparisons Between Canada and the United States,”The Daily, (2001).*“Deaths Reflect Gun Use in U.S.,” Michael Booth, The Denver Post, (1999).“Reducing Crime by Harnessing International Best Practices,” Irving Waller and Brandon C. Welsh, National Institute of Justice Journal, (1998).*14. Drugs.
“Bad Score,”The Economist, (2002).*“The Netherlands: Lets Be Realistic,” Herbert P. Barnard, The World and I, (1998).
