Description
Book SynopsisCompetitive Governments explores in a systematic way the hypothesis that governments are internally competitive, that they are competitive in their relations with each other and in their relations with other institutions in society which, like them, supply consuming households with goods and services.
Trade Review"Breton traverses an impressive array of disciplines and scholars....an optimistic look at the possibility of efficient solutions within the context of current democratic political structures." Choice
"...the author is careful and thorough in laying out his arguments, and he challenges the reader to think about topics such as fiscal federalism and intragovernmental competition in a new light. The text is rich with ideas, full of thought provoking discussions and well informed by past work in the field." Thomas J. Nechyba, Journal of Economic Literature
"...the book makes interesting and stimulating reading and is likely to be influential in shaping research in the future." Thomas J. Nechyba, Journal od Economic Literature
"This book presents many useful insights....everyone should appreciate the novel arguments presented in this book." Donald Wittman, Southern Economic Journal
Table of ContentsPreface; Part I. Compound Governments: 1. The conceptual framework; 2. Demand and its revelation; 3. Checks and balances; 4. Budgetary processes; 5. Consent, suffrage, and support; 6. Hierarchy and bureaucracy; Part II. Governmental Systems: 7. A retrospective overview; 8. The organization of governmental systems; 9. Competition, stability, and central governments; 10. The world order; Part III. Socio-Political Structures: 11. The size of the nonmarket sector; 12. The growth of governments; Conclusion; Appendices: A. Long-term budget deficits; B. The power of 'small' groups; C. The independence of judiciaries; D. Information and pressure; R. An empirical Wicksellian connection?; F. Overlap and duplication; G. Structure and stability of federal states; References; Name index; Subject index.
