This book investigates the historical evolution of Canadian national policy innovation and proposes a framework for a future 'Fourth National Policy' centered on sustainable full employment. Professor Neil Bradford utilizes a comparative lens to analyze how different institutional actors—social interests in Sweden, political parties in the United Kingdom, and the executive branch in the United States—drive policy change. By contrasting these international models with the Canadian experience from the Great Depression to the present, the author argues for specific structural reforms, including increased research funding for political parties and electoral representation, to facilitate a new era of national policy development.

Scholars and policy analysts frequently cite this work as a significant contribution to the study of Canadian political economy and institutional reform. The text is noted for its rigorous comparative methodology and its clear, prescriptive approach to national policy development.