The authors (professors of political science at James Madison U.) present the new edition of their textbook for courses on comparative public policy at the undergraduate level. Adding coverage of the European Union to the previous edition's coverage of the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Italy (as well as cross-national trends), the volume's chapters discuss common policy problems, policy options, and policy dynamics in the realms of immigration policy, fiscal policy, taxation policy, health care policy, social policy, education policy, and environmental policy. They also offer introductory information for readers with little previous knowledge of the general politics and policy-making contexts of the governments under discussion or with the conceptual schools associated with the study of policy. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)