390 ouch and Shughart expand on this theme, and provide the first full mono- graph devoted to a Public Choice analysis of this problem. They describe the bewildering array of New Deal spending and loan programs, offer numerous case studies relating the economic impact and the apparent political motiva tions of these spending sprees, and report the outcome of considerable further c ew across states Couch and shughart 's econometric results show that relief from the effects of the Great Depression played only a relatively minor role in the distribution of New Deal largesse In the debate between the critics and the proponents of activis government, the New Deal is commonly held up as an example of government intervention "done right". This book effectively debunks the popular mythology about the New Deal, and represents a watershed in the application of Public Choice analysis to an important episode in recent economic history GARY M. ANDERSON, Economics, California State University, Northridge, A91330-8245,US.A. References Anderson, G M. and Tollison, R D.(1991). Congressional influence and patterns of New Deal spending, 1933-1939. Journal of Law and Economics 34: 161-175 Arrington, LJ.(1969). Western agriculture and the New Deal. Agricultural History 49: 337- 352 Reading, D. C (1973). New Deal activity and the states, 1933 to 1939. Journal of economic History33:792-810 Wallis, JJ(1987). Employment, politics, and economic recovery during the Great Depression Review of Economics and Statistics 69: 516-520 Wright, G(1974). The political economy of New Deal spending: An econometric analysis Review of Economics and Statistics 56: 30-38 Public Choice 106: 390-395 2001 Mancur Olson, Power and prosperity: Outgrowing communist and capitalist dictators. Foreword by Charles Cadwell. New York: Basic Books, 2000 Xxvii+233 pages. $2800(cloth).' I still remember the year that Mancur Olsons The Rise and Decline of Nations came out. I was visiting at the City University system in New York and had the pleasure of spending the year with some other economists390 Couch and Shughart expand on this theme, and provide the first full mono￾graph devoted to a Public Choice analysis of this problem. They describe the bewildering array of New Deal spending and loan programs, offer numerous case studies relating the economic impact and the apparent political motiva￾tions of these spending sprees, and report the outcome of considerable further econometric analysis on the determinants of New Deal spending and loans across states. Couch and Shughart’s econometric results show that relief from the effects of the Great Depression played only a relatively minor role in the distribution of New Deal largesse. In the debate between the critics and the proponents of activist government, the New Deal is commonly held up as an example of government intervention “done right”. This book effectively debunks the popular mythology about the New Deal, and represents a watershed in the application of Public Choice analysis to an important episode in recent economic history. GARY M. ANDERSON, Economics, California State University, Northridge, CA 91330-8245, U.S.A. References Anderson, G.M. and Tollison, R.D. (1991). Congressional influence and patterns of New Deal spending, 1933–1939. Journal of Law and Economics 34: 161–175. Arrington, L.J. (1969). Western agriculture and the New Deal. Agricultural History 49: 337– 352. Reading, D.C. (1973). New Deal activity and the states, 1933 to 1939. Journal of Economic History 33: 792–810. Wallis, J.J. (1987). Employment, politics, and economic recovery during the Great Depression. Review of Economics and Statistics 69: 516–520. Wright, G. (1974). The political economy of New Deal spending: An econometric analysis. Review of Economics and Statistics 56: 30–38. Public Choice 106: 390–395, 2001 Mancur Olson, Power and prosperity: Outgrowing communist and capitalist dictators. Foreword by Charles Cadwell. New York: Basic Books, 2000. xxviii + 233 pages. $28.00 (cloth).1 I still remember the year that Mancur Olson’s The Rise and Decline of Nations came out. I was visiting at the City University system in New York and had the pleasure of spending the year with some other economists