Book excerpt: Why did some economies experience a boom in the 1990s? Discussing this crucial question, Employment 'Miracles' comparatively analyzes select "miracle" economies. The contributors critically analyze how the small sizes and institutional structures of seven countries—including the Netherlands, Denmark, and Ireland—accounted for their success and their status as economic models. Comparisons to the American and German markets reveal how differing policies—liberal versus corporatist/social democratic—determine job growth and levels of income inequality and poverty. The book also stresses the relevance of fortuitous circumstances such as the housing-price bubble. Employment 'Miracles' is an important resource for political scientists and economists in their study of national economies.