Government versus Markets
Government versus Markets
Vito Tanzi offers a truly comprehensive treatment available of the economic role of the state in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries from a historical and world perspective. The book addresses the fundamental question of what governments should do, or have attempted to do, in economic activities in past and recent periods. It also speculates on what they are likely or may be forced to do in future years. Although other recent titles in economics deal with normative theories, public choice theories, welfare state analysis, social protection, and the like, no other book has the same breadth or depth specifically on the state's viable economic role. The author occupies a unique position in global public finance, having served for nearly three decades as a leading fiscal administrator for the International Monetary Fund, financial adviser to 80 countries, and active economic theorist. The investigation assembles a large set of statistical information that should prove useful to policy-makers and scholars in the perennial discussion of government's optimal economic roles. It will become an essential reference work on the analytical borders between the market and the state, and on what a reasonable “exit strategy” from the current fiscal crises should be.
- The most comprehensive, accessible treatment available on government's optimal role in the current economic crisis
- Provides hard-to-get information on many countries and essential topics at the center of current debates
- Easy to read and accessible to most educated readers even without an economics background
Reviews & endorsements
“Vito Tanzi is one of the very top leading experts on fiscal policy and public policy, and this a must-read for anyone interested in how governments work in reality and how they should work in an ideal world.” – Alberto Alesina, Harvard University
"This highly accessible book is the summa of Vito Tanzi’s unique experience as an academic, senior international official, and policy maker. Everyone will find this book informative and thought-provoking. As an EU policy maker and public finance practitioner, I found it highly challenging and very useful." – Marco Buti, European Commission
“Economists have a one-sided impression of Vito Tanzi: a rigorous fiscal economist, a sophisticated analyst. Now from the book we enjoy the other side of his character: a witty man with a warm sense of humor, an open-eyed observer, and a well-articulated writer.” - János Kornai, Harvard University and Collegium Budapest, Hungary
“Any scholar interested in public economics and in the study of the role of government and any policy maker concerned with public policies will learn a great deal from this excellent book.” – Paola Profeta, Bocconi University Milan, Italy
“An outstanding analysis and a modern vision by a distinguished scholar about the new role of government in the present economic situation. It shows how markets may be made to work efficiently, avoiding financial and economic crisis, while providing economic recovery and stable economic growth.” – Franco Reviglio, University of Turin, Italy
“In this book, Vito Tanzi marshals his vast reservoir of experience in fiscal matters and deep familiarity with modern economic thinking to produce a magisterial treatment of the economic role of the state – past, present, and future. It is packed with insights that will reward both the casual student of public policy and the wizened veteran of the academic and political battles over tax and expenditure policy. Be prepared for conclusions that will startle, such as Tanzi’s view that the growing complexity of state interventions may be the gravest threat to the market economy and democracy.” – Joel Slemrod, University of Michigan
"Mr. Tanzi is one of the world’s most highly regarded economists, and for good reason." - Richard W. Rahn, The Cato Institute; The Institute for Global Economic Growth; Newsmax.com
"If every member of Congress and Washington policymaker[s] would read the [book] by Mr. Tanzi...and act upon their recommendations, our fiscal and entitlement mess would soon be part of a dark past." – The Washington Times
Product details
December 2014Paperback
9781107475960
392 pages
230 × 150 × 25 mm
0.5kg
34 tables
Available
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Part I. Economic Role of State:
- 1. General introduction and main issues
- Part II. Historical Review:
- 2. The role of the state in the pre World War Two period
- 3. Forces that changed the role of the state
- 4. Growth of public spending in the 20th century
- 5. The role of the state in social protection: historical landmarks
- 6. Globalization and public spending
- Part III. Theoretical and Analytical Issues:
- 7. Theories of public sector behavior: taxonomy of government types
- 8. Voluntary exchange and public choice theories
- 9. The Nord European economic theory of fiscal policy
- 10. Policy tools and government roles
- Part IV. The Outcome of State Intervention:
- 11. Evaluating the impact of public spending on socio-economic indicators
- 12. Social protection in the modern world: quantitative aspects
- 13. The role of the state and economic performance in the Nordic countries
- Part V. Reflections on The Role of the State in the Future:
- 14. The economic role of the state in the future: concluding observations.
