American Amnesia- A Book Signing and Discussion with Author Jacob Hacker

LITCHFIELD, Conn. - Sept. 14, 2016 - PRLog -- In American Amnesia, authors Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson trace the economic and political history of the United States over the last century and show how a viable mixed economy has long been the dominant engine of America's prosperity.

Like every other prospering democracy, the United States developed a mixed economy that channeled the spirit of capitalism into strong growth and healthy social development. In this bargain, government and business were as much partners as rivals. Public investments in education, science, transportation, and technology laid the foundation for broadly based prosperity. Programs of economic security and progressive taxation provided a floor of protection and business focused on the pursuit of profit - and government addressed needs business could not. The mixed economy was the most important social innovation of the twentieth century. And yet, it is anathema to many current economic and political elites.

Jacob S. Hacker, Ph.D., is the Director of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies, and Stanley B. Resor Professor of Political Science at Yale University. He earned his B.A. from Harvard and his Ph.D. from Yale University. An expert on the politics of U.S. health and social policy, he is the author or co-author of several books including, most recently, Winner-Take-All Politics and has edited three volumes - most recently, Shared Responsibility, Shared Risk: Government, Markets, and Social Policy in the Twenty-First Century,  edited with Ann O'Leary. He has appeared on The NewsHour, MSNBC, All Things Considered, and Marketplace.

A wine and cheese reception will follow the event. The Hickory Stick Bookshop will provide books for signing and for purchase. All Oliver Wolcott Library events are free and open to the public. Space is limited. Registration is required and can be done by calling 860-567-8030 or logging onto www.owlibrary.org and clicking on Programs/Adult Programs.