Arguably, the two most important forces affecting the world economy in the closing decades of the 20th century were globalization and privatization. Here, privatization refers to the retreat of the state from the economic arena, while globalization refers to the worldwide spread of efficient market-based systems and the consequent growth of multinational firms. The twin forces of privatization and globalization have proceeded in parallel, but have nonetheless had significant interactions with one another. (i) the spectacular collapse of the state-run socialist economies; (ii) the transfer of...

This comprehensive and thought-provoking Handbook reviews public sector economics from pluralist perspectives that either complement or reach beyond mainstream views. The book takes a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, drawing on economic elements in the fields of philosophy, sociology, psychology, history and law. The expert contributors present new methodological approaches across these disciplines in five distinct sections: - 'Revisiting the Theoretical Foundations' compares and contrasts Austrians, Marxists, public choice theorists and Keynesians - 'Revisiting the Values' is...

This comprehensive and thought-provoking Handbook reviews public sector economics from pluralist perspectives that either complement or reach beyond mainstream views. The book takes a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach, drawing on economic elements in the fields of philosophy, sociology, psychology, history and law. The expert contributors present new methodological approaches across these disciplines in five distinct sections: - 'Revisiting the Theoretical Foundations' compares and contrasts Austrians, Marxists, public choice theorists and Keynesians - 'Revisiting the Values' is...