What do you think?
Rate this book
Public Finance
Public Finance 8/e benefits from the combined efforts of Harvey Rosen’s market-leading book and new co-author Ted Gayer’s research and government agency experience. Ted recently served as a Senior Economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors and is currently a member of the EPA’s Science Advisory Board. Additionally, Rosen served on the President’s Council of Economics Advisers, 2003-2005, as a member and chairman. As a result, the 8th edition maintains the strengths of previous editions but is enhanced with new material and current examples from public finance literature and the policy world. It includes substantive changes that reflect the progress that has been made in the field of public finance. These changes may be divided into three new organization, new material, and new pedagogical features. As with previous editions, the book continues to draw upon the latest research while never losing sight of the reality it is supposed to describe, always drawing the links between economic analysis and current political issues.
624 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1985
44 people are currently reading
659 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 1, 2019
The book does deal with traditional public finance rather takes a modern approach to define the complexities in the easy language of mathematics. The book has used some econometric method as well. The language is easy and details provided is pretty lucrative and easy to understand.
February 15, 2011
Probably the best book that can help anyone understand (or explain to others) government financing. Anyone who is a part of the "Tea Party" or considering it MUST read this and open their eyes; public budgeting isn't as simple as "smaller government, less taxes!" because of numerous intricate and irreducible factors that cannot be simplified down to a misspelled protest sign. Multiplier effects, production possibility frontiers, etcetera.
Rosen does an excellent job explaining many parts of government accounting. This is not a difficult read, but prepare to have some reference material handy if it's been a while since your freshman-level accounting and macroeconomics classes. I continually find myself digging up this book again and again to get a better grasp on our economic situation with every new policy passed.
Probably the most relevant chapters concerning our modern world are the ones explaining Public Goods; you always hear how "inefficient" government is and how everything should be privatized. However, the government steps in because of a market failure. There are many reasons for a market failure, some are due to profiteering businesses (the polluting firm that avoids absorbing negative externalities if they can), and some are simply the nature of the good (how can a private firm collect from the users of their streetlights if it's impossible to prevent streetlight use by non-payers?). Rosen gives empirical reasoning why certain goods may be better off left to private firms over government, and why certain goods or services should not be handled by private firms but rather, given to the government.
Rosen does an excellent job explaining many parts of government accounting. This is not a difficult read, but prepare to have some reference material handy if it's been a while since your freshman-level accounting and macroeconomics classes. I continually find myself digging up this book again and again to get a better grasp on our economic situation with every new policy passed.
Probably the most relevant chapters concerning our modern world are the ones explaining Public Goods; you always hear how "inefficient" government is and how everything should be privatized. However, the government steps in because of a market failure. There are many reasons for a market failure, some are due to profiteering businesses (the polluting firm that avoids absorbing negative externalities if they can), and some are simply the nature of the good (how can a private firm collect from the users of their streetlights if it's impossible to prevent streetlight use by non-payers?). Rosen gives empirical reasoning why certain goods may be better off left to private firms over government, and why certain goods or services should not be handled by private firms but rather, given to the government.
August 18, 2008
I owe the vast majority of my facility with economics to Rosen. This text is an invaluable introduction to economics at the governmental level, with plenty of references to relatively current real-life situations. Even if you don't like economics, but are interested in how government works and how to make it work better, this is a great book for you.
June 25, 2022
Written in a somewhat informal style this textbook is perhaps the best introduction to Public finance. The book examines each topic in equal detail.
April 24, 2009
A must read for every student of economics!
January 24, 2013
I hate public finance, but this book allowed me to understand the field - I recommend it for anyone who may enjoy this subject??!!!
November 2, 2019
Uhhhj
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2008
Computers are fun to type on.
Currently reading
March 15, 2009Good book but very basic.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews