The United States since 1980 - Clear Account of Reaganism's Legacy

In this review of The United States since 1980, the reviewer finds a focused, evidence-driven account aimed at readers who want to understand the political and economic realignment that followed Ronald Reagan's election. Dean Baker lays out a concise thesis: policies beginning in 1980 marked a decisive shift in the direction of US economic policy, producing upward redistribution and a divergence from other wealthy countries. This book is best for readers seeking a critical, policy-centered narrative rather than a broad political memoir or pure academic treatise.

Key Features

• Clear thesis: Presents a single, consistent argument that the Reagan era represented a fundamental break in US economic policy, making the consequences easy to follow.
• Comparative perspective: Explains how US policy choices contrasted with those of other wealthy countries, helping readers grasp what made the US path distinctive.
• Focus on redistribution: Traces how policies redistributed income upward before and after taxes, clarifying mechanisms behind growing inequality.
• Political continuity: Documents how both major parties came to accept key Reagan-era tenets, showing the long-term political effects.
• Provocative analysis: Challenges common assumptions about post-1980 policy as merely incremental, encouraging debate and further reading.

Who It's For

This book is well suited to readers interested in economic policy, public affairs, or contemporary political history who want a compact, argument-driven account of how the United States' economic direction changed after 1980. Policy students, journalists, and informed citizens will find the comparative framing and focus on distribution particularly useful.

Those seeking an exhaustive academic textbook or a partisan polemic may want to look elsewhere: the work is interpretive and aimed at explaining a policy shift, not cataloging every legislative detail or offering a balanced anthology of opposing viewpoints.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Concise, coherent thesis that makes the argument accessible to non-specialists interested in public policy.
• Useful comparative context showing how US choices diverged from other wealthy nations, which sharpens the book's conclusions.
• Focus on redistribution helps readers connect policy changes to real economic outcomes.

Cons

• Limited scope: the book emphasizes a single interpretive line and does not serve as a comprehensive legislative history or exhaustive empirical compendium.

Specifications

Title	The United States since 1980
Subtitle / Series	The World Since 1980
Author	Dean Baker
Subject	US economic policy and political change since 1980
Focus	Redistribution and policy divergence from other wealthy countries
Perspective	Critical, policy-oriented analysis

Our Verdict

The United States since 1980 is a focused, persuasive book for readers who want a clear explanation of how Reagan-era policies reshaped American economic outcomes and political consensus. Its value lies in a tight argument and comparative context, making it a worthwhile read for policy-minded audiences even if those seeking exhaustive detail will need complementary sources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the book argue that Reagan-era policies caused inequality?
Yes; the book argues those policies redistributed income upward and were a significant factor in economic gains accruing to a small segment of the population.

Is this an academic text or a popular history?
It reads as a policy-focused, interpretive book accessible to general readers interested in public affairs rather than a dense academic tome.

Who should read this first?
Start with this book if you want a concise, comparative account of US policy shifts since 1980 and their distributional effects.