Book Review: Europe: The Politics of Means and Ends: Policy Instruments in the European Union
| Author | Graeme Crouch |
| Published date | 01 May 2013 |
| DOI | 10.1111/1478-9302.12016_105 |
| Date | 01 May 2013 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
E U R O P E
devolution’ (p. 25) conflates the largely anti-nationalist
examines personal income taxes in Eastern Europe, and
sentiments expressed at the conference with anti-
Russian taxation in light of the previous chapters is
devolution ones – a normative narrative that simplifies
contextualised in chapter 6, while chapter 7 presents
the complexity of intra-Labour ideological antago-
the conclusions of the monograph.
nisms. But this is, regardless, the best text on Welsh
The comparison with Russia allows the author to
devolution I have read in a long time. Highly accessi-
segregate effects of European integration from other
ble, it deserves not only a place on course reading lists
external factors that influence the development of taxes in
but a readership beyond academia.
Eastern Europe (e.g. globalisation, domestic political pres-
sures). In this way, the author elegantly overcomes the
David S. Moon
methodological trap of identifying everything as Europe-
(University of Liverpool)
anisation of Eastern European tax policies. In contrast, she
is able to identify the various factors in play and examines
Europe
them in depth.This approach is certainly also transferable
to other transition studies, in which countries that inte-
grated into the EU could be compared to other countries
Tax Politics in Eastern Europe: Globalization,
that did not do so. In addition, the author uses clear and
Regional Integration, and the Democratic Com-
precise language. The book is suitable for anybody who
promise by Hilary Appel. Ann Arbor MI: University
would like to know more about the dynamics of transi-
of Michigan Press, 2011. 189pp., £51.95, ISBN
tion, in particular in the tax area.
9780472117765
Michael Steffens
Hilary Appel offers a comprehensive account of tax
(Independent Scholar)
policies in Eastern Europe...
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