探討歐洲各國在戰後時期的快速經濟成長和當前危機。分析：各國不同的傳統（如：法國的公共利益維護觀念、自由開放、專制獨裁）。政府在經濟成長與衰退所扮演的角色。凱因斯主義、指導性計劃和國營企業為何以及在何處被採用。其他當代的經濟問題（如：新的國際分工、過少生產者、石油震撼）還有應變的策略（如：產業政策、貨幣主義、保護主義）。
Examines role of European states in postwar period of rapid economic growth and current crisis. Includes analysis of different state traditions ("etatist," liberal, authoritarian); government's role in decline of some economies and rise of others; why and where Keynesianism, indicative planning, and state enterprises were introduced; alternative conceptions of contemporary economic problems (new international division of labor? too few producers? oil shock?); and of policies to deal with them (industrial policy? monetarism? protectionism?).