Explores financial aspects of constitutional government, focusing on central banking, sovereign borrowing, taxation and public expenditure.

In this volume, based on a week-long symposium at the University of Munich's Center for Economic Studies, two leading scholars of governmental economics debate their divergent perspectives on the role of government and its fiscal functions. James M. Buchanan, who was influential in developing the research program in public choice, concentrates on the imperfections of the political process and stresses the need for rules to restrain governmental interference. Richard A. Musgrave, a founder of modern public finance, points to market failures and inequities that call for corrective public policies. They apply their differing economic and political philosophies to a variety of key issues. Each presentation is followed by a response and general discussion.

Drawing from current examples from a variety of countries, Public Finance: An International Perspective addresses the main issues in contemporary public finance, including fiscal sustainability, state enterprises, and a variety of subsidies. There are relatively few textbooks on public finance, and many of them focus on the experience and issues facing the United States. This book sets out to address the critical issues from other countries, particularly those from the developing world or emerging market countries, who have received less attention in other texts. Written in a highly accessible manner, this book is a useful reference for students and practitioners alike.

Featuring a general equilibrium framework that is both cohesive and versatile, the Second Edition of Public Finance: A Normative Theory brings new and updated information to this classic text. Through its concentration on the microeconomic theory of the public sector in the context of capitalist market economics it addresses the subjects traditionally at the heart of public sector economics, including public good theory, theory of taxation, welfare analysis, externalities, tax incidence, cost benefit analysis, and fiscal federalism. Its goal of providing a foundation, rather than attempting to present the most recent scholarship in detail, makes this Second Edition both a valuable text and a resource for professionals. * Second edition provides new and updated information * Focuses on the heart of public sector economics, including public expenditure theory and policy, tax theory and policy, cost benefit-analysis, and fiscal federalism * Features a cohesive and versatile general equilibrium framework

Chapters include: "Income distribution and welfare programs", "State and local government expenditures" and "Health economics and private health insurance".

Public Finance, which focuses on the policies of the government, especially in relation to tax, expenditure and budget, may be considered a very traditional and ‘dry’ subject. However, insofar as it has a huge impact on the national economy and the welfare of the citizens, Public Finance assumes tremendous significance and becomes a challenging and interesting subject of study. Divided into nine parts, this compact and concise text gives a detailed discussion on the nature and scope of public finance, theory of public goods, canons of taxation, types of taxes, theories of taxation, and incidence and shifting of taxation. The book also covers public debt, its management and its burden, government budgeting, budgeting theory and balanced budget. Finally, the text dwells on fiscal federalism, and public enterprises and black money, the last two being so important in the Indian context today. What distinguishes the text is the clear analysis of growth and welfare economics, as these have a crucial bearing on the Indian economy. What is more, the text is interspersed with many examples to illustrate the theory discussed and also gives practical insights. This book is primarily intended as a text for undergraduate students of Economics and Commerce for their course on Public Finance/Public Economics.

Useful for Graduate and P.G. Students of Economics and Candidates Appearing for Competitive Examinations. It examines every major problem of the economy of public sector first in the context of the developed countries of the western world and then their relevence is looked into from the angle of the developing countries.