In this Third Edition of STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND
REFORM, Donovan, Mooney, and Smith go beyond the purely descriptive
treatment usually found in state and local texts. Offering an engaging
comparative approach, the Third Edition shows students how politics and
government differ between states and communities, and points out the
causes and effects of those variations. The text also focuses on what
social scientists know about the effects of rules and institutions on
politics and policy. This comparative, institutional framework enables
students to think more analytically about the impact of institutions on
policy outcomes, asks them to evaluate the effectiveness of one
institutional approach over another, and encourages them to consider
more sophisticated solutions. Written by three young, high-profile
specialists who have contributed significantly to the field in the last
decade, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS AND REFORM incorporates
the most recent scholarship available into the course, giving students
access to perspectives that no other textbook on the market currently
provides.