THE GROWTH OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR

Theories and International Evidence

Edited by Norman Gemmell, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

At a time when there is growing concern in many countries over the funding of expanding public sectors, this important new book brings together leading specialists in public finance to re-examine the economics of public sector growth. Several chapters document changes in the size of the public sector over recent decades for major OECD and Third World economies. Subsequent chapters then explore prominent explanations including public choice perspectives, bureaucracy models, relative price effects and Wagner's Law, and assess their contribution to current knowledge. The book also provides a number of new case studies of specific government activities – education, health a

‘. . . provides a useful and readable overview of developments in this area . . .’
– Peter Else, The Economic Journal

‘One leaves this volume with a better understanding of the multifaceted nature of public sector growth’.
– David Schap, The Southern Economic Journal

‘This important collection offers new insights into the growth of the public sector (especially changes in public expenditure) that has fascinated economists from the time of Adam Smith.’
公共管理发展的——抽象and Environment

‘Those working with the development of the public sector should certainly add the book to their library. . .’
– Martin Paldam, The World Economy