Public Management and Governance

Government is topical once again. After many years of speculation that the market could take over much of its role, strong and democratic government is more important than ever. Moreover, the quality of public services is a major electoral issue in most countries around the world. This textbook examines what it means to have efficient management and good quality services in the public sector and how public sector performance can be improved. Furthermore, it explores how the process of governing needs to be fundamentally altered if a government is to remain legitimate and make use of society's resources. Key themes include: the challenges and pressures governments experience and how these differ internationally; the changing functions of the modern government competitiveness in the global economy; and the role of the public sector in a mixed economy of public, voluntary and private service provision.