What influence does business have on government? How much should government regulate and intervene with business? To evaluate the nexus of the two, Richard Lehne explores how government and business each rely on the effective performance of the other to meet their goals. Government depends on business to create jobs, generate revenue, promote innovation, and provide goods and services; business needs government to provide specific opportunities for firms and industries and to maintain conditions in which economic activity can flourish.

Taking a decidedly comparative approach, Lehne evaluates the similarities and differences between the U.S. political economy and those of Great Britain, Germany, Japan, and the European Union. After providing rich historical context, he probes some of the most crucial dilemmas facing government and business today—including whether economic globalization threatens national sovereignty; the place of public opinion, unions, and other advocacy groups in government-business relations; and the best way to improve the international trade system.

Important new coverage includes:

• how the Enron and WorldCom-MCI scandals illustrate major failures in regulation by both government policies and corporate governance
• how the regulation of cell phones in the EU and United States illustrates major differences in industrial policy
• how recalls on drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex shamed the FDA and reflect the intense accountability of federal regulation for certain private industries
• how European business groups are gaining strength and influence on policy in the EU
• how regulation is used as a policy tool, specifically looking at the FCC’s tightening regulation of the media

• Cases in Development boxes extend the comparative analysis with key illustrations of business-government relations in developing countries, including India, Mexico, Brazil, China, and South Korea.
• Comprehensive glossary spotlights all key terms for each chapter.
• Chapter-ending summaries encapsulate the most important concepts developed in each chapter.

Tables, Figures, and Boxes
Preface
Introduction

Part I. Environment for Government-Business Relations
1. Origins of Government and Business
Colonial Times to 1860: Legal Foundations of Business
The Rise of Modern Industry: 1860–1929
The Emergence of Positive Government: 1929–2005
Paths to Industrial Development
Summary
Further Readings

2. Creating Government-Business Relations
The Role of Government
Models of Business and Government
Government and Business: International Perspectives
Summary
Further Readings

3. The Stakes in Governmental Systems
Government Activities
Patterns of American Governance
Governmental Institutions in Comparative Perspective
Summary
Further Readings

4. Corporate Governance and Public Space Responsibility
Who Controls Corporations in the United States?
Corporate Governance in Comparative Perspective
Corporate Public Affairs Programs
Summary
Further Readings

5. Globalization of Business Activity
The Emergence of the Global Marketplace
Multinational Corporations in the Global Economy
Carving Up the Global Pie: Varieties of Capitalism
Summary
Further Readings

Part II. Corporate Activities in the Political Arena
6. The Advocacy Environment: Public Opinion, Unions, and Groups
Public Attitudes toward Business
Labor Unions
Interest Group Universe
Summary
Further Readings

7. Corporations and Business Associations in the Political Arena
Business Involvement in Politics
Business Associations in the United States
Business Associations: A Comparative Perspective
Summary
Further Readings

8. Lobbying Connections
What Do Business Lobbyists Do?
Lobbying Administrative Agencies
Litigation as a Business Tactic
Governmental Relations in Comparative Perspective
Corporate Lobbying: Pluralism or Hegemony?
Summary
Further Readings

9. Why Does Business Win and Lose in Politics?
Business and Political Parties: A Comparative Perspective
Winning and Losing in Politics
Hallmarks of Business in American Politics
Summary
Further Readings

Part III. Government Policies and Business
10. Business and Economic Policy
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy
Revenues and Expenditures
Employment
Summary
Further Readings

11. Regulatory Policy
Theories of Regulation
Dimensions of Federal Regulation
The Contest among Reform, Deregulation, and Reregulation
Summary
Further Readings

12. Antitrust and Competition Policy in the New Economy
American Antitrust Policy
Comparative Antitrust Policies
Conclusion
Summary
Further Readings

13. Industrial Policy and High-Tech Industries
American Industrial Policies and Proposals
Industrial Policy: International Experiences
Technology Policies
Conclusion
Summary
Further Readings

14. Global Trade Policies
Features of the International Trading System
The International Trade System under Stress
What is the Future of the International Trade System?
Summary
Further Readings

15. Business as Social Actor
Policies to Achieve Societal Goals
Policies to Protect Society from Business
Policies to Protect Workers
Conclusion
Summary
Further Readings

Notes
Index

“With its comparative focus, strong presentation, and even-handedness in discussing controversial topics, Lehne's Government and Business is essential reading for students of political economy courses. In fact, without this second edition I doubt very much that I would ever teach the course again.”

“Lehne’s Government and Business is an intriguing and useful text. Its explicit treatment of U.S. political economy in a comparative context sets it apart from many books I have examined. The author’s informative tables provide a consistent source of discussion and student feedback, as the use of public opinion data, corporate revenues, and other such material is uncommonly strong. The addition of a comprehensive glossary and end-of-chapter summaries makes this edition more accessible to undergraduate students. Moreover, the added coverage of developing countries provides even starker contrast to the four core nations examined, which better illustrates some of the general themes.”

“I have used Government and Business in political science and international studies courses, and will now be using the second edition in the business school. The book's interdisciplinary approach makes it a nice fit for a variety of political economy, public policy, business and society, and international business courses.”

Richard Lehne is professor of political science at Rutgers University and a Senior Fulbright Scholar at the University Heidelberg. He was previously a member of the Faculty for the Doctoral Program in International Business at the Rutgers Graduate School of Management.