The Public Sector in the Global Economy : From the Driver's Seat to the Back Seat

In the 21st century, the public sector in the nation state has lost some of its insular structure. Its decision-making power has been subjugated to the forces of political and economic liberalism that are sweeping the global economy. This volume provides a framework for the study of spillovers of the global economy on the functioning of the public sector in the nation state. The first part gives an overview of what constitutes the global economy and analyzes the changing role of the public sector in the nation state in the face of global and regional spillovers. The second examines models of public sector behavior - from traditional to leviathan - in light of changes in the world economy. The 'club' arrangement as a global government is offered as an example for governance in the 21st century. In this book, Attiat Ott: * incorporates theory and empirical models of the public economy and offers tests of the traditional and Leviathan models of public sector behavior * explores the implications of global spillovers on the capacity of the nation state's public sector to address local needs * addresses the question many governments of the future will be asking, 'Can we go it alone', that is, whether they need to belong to a 'world club' to best serve their citizens, and * deals with a critical concept of governance in the 21st century, the perceived infringement on the powers of governments in the nation states by international agencies and world clubs such as the G-7. Scholars and students of political economy and public finance will find his book a valuable addition to their collections.