Unprecedented in its scope, Rainbow's End provides a bold new analysis of the emergence, growth, and decline of six classic Irish-American political machines in New York, Jersey City, Chicago, San Francisco, Pittsburgh and Albany. Combining the approaches of political economy and historical sociology, Erie examines a wide range of issues, including the relationship between city and state politics, the manner in which machines shaped ethnic and working-class politics, and the reasons why centralized party organizations failed to emerge in Boston and Philadelphia despite their large...

How do city-regions successfully compete in the global age? Mixing history and policy analysis, Steven Erie offers a compelling account of the improbable rise of Los Angeles, explaining how a region with no natural harbor and a metropolis situated a distant 20 miles from the coast managed to become the world's ninth largest economy and a leading trade and transportation center. In Globalizing L.A., he argues that physical infrastructure development was a catalytic yet underappreciated factor in the transformation of L.A. and Southern California into a global economy, provocatively...

How do city-regions successfully compete in the global age? Mixing history and policy analysis, Steven Erie offers a compelling account of the improbable rise of Los Angeles, explaining how a region with no natural harbor and a metropolis situated a distant 20 miles from the coast managed to become the world's ninth largest economy and a leading trade and transportation center. In Globalizing L.A., he argues that physical infrastructure development was a catalytic yet underappreciated factor in the transformation of L.A. and Southern California into a global economy, provocatively...

As urban growth outstrips water supplies, how can the global challenge of providing "liquid gold" be met? Mixing history and policy analysis, Steven Erie tells the compelling story of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)--one of the world's largest and most important public water agencies--and its role in building the world's 8th largest economy in a semi-desert. No tawdry tale of secret backroom conspiracies--as depicted in the famed film noir Chinatown--this fresh telling concerns an unheralded regional institution, its entrepreneurial public leadership, and...

As urban growth outstrips water supplies, how can the global challenge of providing "liquid gold" be met? Mixing history and policy analysis, Steven Erie tells the compelling story of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD)--one of the world's largest and most important public water agencies--and its role in building the world's 8th largest economy in a semi-desert. No tawdry tale of secret backroom conspiracies--as depicted in the famed film noir Chinatown--this fresh telling concerns an unheralded regional institution, its entrepreneurial public leadership, and...

The early 21st century has not been kind to California's reputation for good government. But the Golden State's governance flaws reflect worrisome national trends with origins in the 1970s and 1980s. Growing voter distrust with government, a demand for services but not taxes to pay for them, a sharp decline in enlightened leadership and effective civic watchdogs, and dysfunctional political institutions have all contributed to the current governance malaise. Until recently, San Diego, California--America's 8th largest city--seemed immune to such systematic governance disorders. This sunny...

Paradise Plundered is a cautionary tale of the fiscal mismanagement, political corruption, and infrastructure challenges that plague and threaten San Diego, California - with relevant comparative analyses to other American cities.

Originally published in 1972, this study aims to explore governmental interaction with people and publics interests and institutions in Metropolitan America. These papers discuss issues of how governance can be improved and the federal role in Metropolitanism as well as suggesting ways in which political reform can help. This title will be of interest to students of Environmental Economics and professionals.

Originally published in 1972, this study aims to explore governmental interaction with people and publics interests and institutions in Metropolitan America. These papers discuss issues of how governance can be improved and the federal role in Metropolitanism as well as suggesting ways in which political reform can help. This title will be of interest to students of Environmental Economics and professionals.