A revised and updated edition of this student text which takes account of the major changes in the world's politico-economic systems since the first edition, published in 1990. The book is a comparative analysis of states, considering their affluence, democracy and public policy, describing the polity and economy in a number of countries, and surveying the dominant theoretical approaches. The emphasis in this edition is on institutions and outcomes from a developmental perspective. Economic, social and political development is analyzed by examining data from the entire post-war period. The concept of a politico-economic regime is scrutinized both theoretically and empirically, in order to illuminate similarities and differences between institutions in countries, and their developmental consequences for the countries of the world. Developmental strategies and ideals are described in relation to both rich and poor states.