Public Management and Governance examines the factors which make government critically important and the barriers which often stop it being effective. It questions what it means to have effective policies, efficient management and good quality public services, and it explores how the process of governing could be improved. Key themes include:
- the challenges and pressures facing governments around the world;
- the changing role of the public sector in a 'mixed economy' of provision;
- governance issues such as ethics, equalities, transparency and citizen engagement.
This revised and updated third edition includes eight new chapters which provide in-depth coverage of key new aspects of public management and governance. It also features a wide selection of international case studies and illuminating examples of how public policy, management and governance can be improved - and what happens when they fail. Each chapter is supplemented with discussion questions, group and individual exercises, case studies and recommendations on further reading.
Public Management and Governance
is one of the leading student textbooks in its field, featuring contributions from top international authors and covering a wide range of key topics in depth. It is an essential resource for all students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in public management, public administration, government and public policy.
'This book is already an established and highly regarded text in its field. This revised version further strengthens its comprehensiveness, quality and relevance for aspiring and practising public managers.' - John Alford, Australia and New Zealand School of Government, co-author of 'Rethinking Public Service Delivery'
'Countries around the world are wrestling with complex budgetary and political challenges related to the effective and efficient delivery of public services to the citizenry. Consequently, this new book, Public Management and Governance, edited by Tony Bovaird and Elke Loeffler will be especially welcomed by public managers, policymakers, and scholars interested in the improvement of the public services. The book is a terrific resource for classroom use, public management reform, and future scholarship on the changing public services.' - Steven Rathgeb Smith, George Washington University and Director, American Society of Public Administration (ASPA), USA
'This book provides essential reading for those interesting in transforming our public services. The challenges are great and this book helps us think through what needs to change. We need to understand better what works and the debates and evidence reviewed in this book take us a long way down that path.' - Gerry Stoker, University of Southampton, UK and University of Canberra, Australia
