The Politics of Public Pensions

Parties, State Governments, and Unions

Carolyn Abott

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Hardback

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English

Columbia University Press
15 July 2025

Social welfare & social services; Public administration; Pensions; Industrial relations & safety

This book is a nuanced and comprehensive account of the intricate politics surrounding public sector pensions, an issue that has become increasingly contentious in recent years. Drawing from an array of case studies and theoretical perspectives, it delves into how public sector pensions are negotiated, structured, and sustained, revealing the consequences for governance, labor relations, and public policy.

Carolyn Abott examines the historical development of public sector pensions, emphasizing the sociopolitical factors that have shaped their evolution and the ongoing debates about their sustainability. She uncovers the political and economic considerations that influence pension policy, highlighting the tensions among public employees, governments, and taxpayers. Abott also addresses the broader implications for economic inequality and intergenerational equity, offering a distinctive perspective on the intersection of public finance and political power.

The Politics of Public Pensions concludes with recommendations for reform that balance the needs of retirees with the fiscal realities faced by governments, providing a roadmap for a sustainable and equitable future. Combining qualitative and quantitative methods, this rigorous book delivers essential insights for policy makers, scholars, and anyone interested in public finance.

By: Carolyn Abott
Imprint: Columbia University Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
ISBN: 9780231214223
ISBN 10: 0231214227
Pages: 312
Publication Date: 15 July 2025
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Carolyn Abott is an assistant professor of political science at Baruch College, City University of New York.

Reviews for The Politics of Public Pensions: Parties, State Governments, and Unions

It has become conventional wisdom that the Democratic Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of public sector unions. By examining how public pensions became so shockingly underfunded, Abott shows why this view is mistaken. The politics of pensions are much more complicated—and much more interesting. This book reveals why our intuitions about how state-level democracy works need an urgent update. -- Vladimir Kogan, coauthor of <i>Paradise Plundered: Fiscal Crisis and Governance Failures in San Diego</i>