Gray agendas: interest groups and public pensions in Canada, Britain, and the United States, by Henry J. Pratt

Gray Agendas, by Wayne State University's Henry J. Pratt, is an in-depth and well-structured examination of the historical development of pension policy and its impact on interest groups in three countries over the last century: Canada, Britain, and the United States. It is of interest to political scientists, sociologists, historians, and public policy analysts interested in aging. The book provides detailed analyses of the changing nature of age-active interest groups over time, inspects factors contributing to the growth and decline of specific groups, and refers often to the individuals who were vital to their formation and survival. Considering the past and present growth of the elderly population in Western countries and the increase in the number and influence of age-active interest groups, it is a timely work. The topic is also important considering the rapid changes to old age policy that have occurred over the last several decades in many Western nations. As the author notes, the change has been unidirectional, toward the enlargement of service and increases in budget allocations.