Smith, and Mooney go beyond the purely descriptive treatment usually found in state and local texts and offer an engaging comparative approach, showing students how politics and government differ between states and communities and describing the causes and effects of those variations. In addition, the text focuses on what social scientists know about the effects of rules and institutions on politics and policy. This comparative institutional framework enables students to think more analytically about the impact of institutions on policy outcomes, asks them to evaluate the effectiveness of one institutional approach over another, and encourages them to consider more sophisticated solutions. Written by three young, high-profile specialists who have contributed significantly to the field in the last decade, the text incorporates the most recent scholarship available, giving students access to perspectives that no other textbook on the market currently provides. An abbreviated, cost-effective text, STATE AND LOCAL POLITICS: INSTITUTIONS & REFORM: THE ESSENTIALS covers the core concepts students need to gain a solid understanding of state and local government, all within ten chapters.

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