Reviews

A decade ago, New York City, unable to sell its bonds and meet its payroll and other obligations, was on the verge of bankruptcy. The crisis was averted only after the city administration agreed to stringent fiscal restraints forced on it by a coalition of reform-minded political groups. Shefter (Government, Cornell) shows how New York, in its long history, had faced such a crisis five other times before. In many ways, there are striking similarities common to all such events in terms of causes, consequences, and solutions. Shefter is concerned with whether the recurring problem is inherent in New York's political system itself. His findings have significant implications for the prospect of democratic governance throughout urban America. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. M. Balachandran, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana-Champaign