This study examines the impact of governing parties in changing patterns of income inequality in three liberal democracies with 'Westminster' systems - Australia (1981-1990), the United Kingdom (1979-1986) and Canada (1971-1981). Extensive analysis of the Luxembourg Income Study datasets for these countries and periods suggests that structural factors, such as changes in the market sphere or alterations in the demographic profiles, can account for only a part of the overall inequality trends in these periods. By using income decomposition analyses, this study indicates that government redistributive policies played an important role in changing inequality trends. Governments in all three countries are single-party operations, and policy responds strongly to partisan processes and considerations. The main question involved in assessing policy changes is therefore why party actors may be willing to increase or decrease income inequality. Applying conventional 'unitary' models of party behaviour (such as the median voter convergence hypothesis) to try and explain decision-making on income inequality also cannot explain these examples. It seems that redistributive policies can only be understood by taking account of the bargaining processes which take place within the organization of the party in power. Explanations of how parties intervene on income inequality should explicitly incorporate the organizational dimension as a key to their behaviour.

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Low-income women are less likely to initiate, continue and exclusively breastfeed. Limited Canadian research exists regarding the lived breastfeeding experience. A phenomenological study, utilizing a feminist approach and Fishbein’s Integrative Model of Behavioral Prediction was conducted. Women recruited via purposeful, criterion sampling, who were eligible for the Manitoba Healthy Child Prenatal Benefit and had breastfed participated in 1:1 interviews (N=18). The essence of the experience was breastfeeding is “amazing and tough”. The themes of “life context”, “tough work”, and “persevering” emerged. Women who continued to breastfeed described breastfeeding becoming easier and ongoing breastfeeding variability in their experience. Those who discontinued breastfeeding noted it did not fit with their lifestyle, made the decision to breastfeed later, and interpreted breastfeeding problems differently. Researchers and practitioners need to explore the role of stress and consider this in providing individualized, coordinated breastfeeding and health care support to these women.

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In view of the political importance and the economic position of the landlord in England during the 18th and 19th centuries it is perhaps surprising that his economic activities have till lately received little attention from 20th century economic historians. As a vehicle for politico-historical propaganda the history of the agricultural labourer offered more scope for those whose dogma already had damned the capitalist activities of the landlord. A lack of sympathy may account for a lack of interest but scarcely excuses it. In the last few years the work of such historians as Professors Habbakuk and Spring and Mr. F. M. L. Thompson have changed the position radically, but there is still no published work of analysis of the central problem of their income-rents. Coal interests may have been important for the Lambtons or the Londonderrys, but agricultural rents for the majority remained the principal source and no detailed information of changes in this between 1700 and 1850 has to my knowledge been published.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.

Thesis (M.U.P.)--University of Michigan, Dept. of Urban Planning. / Also issued in print.

Thesis--University of California, Berkeley. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 558-563). Also issued in print.