{"product_id":"politics-in-the-age-of-austerity-1","title":"Politics in the Age of Austerity","description":"In a world of increasing austerity measures, democratic politics comes  under  pressure. With the need to consolidate budgets and to accommodate  financial  markets, the responsiveness of governments to voters  declines. However,  democracy depends on choice. Citizens must be able  to influence the course of  government through elections and if a change  in government cannot translate into  different policies, democracy is  incapacitated. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Many mature democracies  are approaching this situation as they confront  fiscal crisis. For almost three  decades, OECD countries have - in fits  and starts - run deficits and accumulated  debt. As a result, an ever  smaller part of government revenue is available today  for discretionary  spending and social investment and whichever party comes into  office  will find its hands tied by past decisions. The current financial and   fiscal crisis has exacerbated the long-term shrinking government  discretion;  projects for political change have lost credibility. Many  citizens are aware of  this situation: they turn away from party  politics and stay at home on Election  Day.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e With contributions from leading scholars in the forefront of  sociology,  politics and economics, this timely book will be of great interest to   students and scholars throughout the social sciences as well as general   readers.","brand":"John Wiley and Sons Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54240873415000,"sku":"9780745661698","price":28.5,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0278\/1295\/4195\/files\/9780745661698.jpg?v=1770486320","url":"https:\/\/agendabookshop.com\/products\/politics-in-the-age-of-austerity-1","provider":"Agenda Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}