Australia and the US are similar in many ways, yet they diverge dramatically in many others. This inaugural volume in the Australian Fulbright series brings together a group of both Australian and American scholars to review key aspects of this commonality and difference. The focus is on how both countries have handled two of the big trade-offs in national policy: pluralism versus unity, and economic growth versus equity. As befits a project under Fulbright auspices, attention is also given to the creation and sharing of knowledge.