Book Talks- Bigger Government: The Future Of Government Expenditure in Advanced Economies

The debate on appropriate long-term levels of government expenditure in advanced economies is one rooted, in the final analysis, in profound differences in values and ideology. However, while values matter, so do facts and analysis. This is where this book aims to make a contribution. Its simple premise is that it is impossible to meaningfully debate the appropriate size of government without first carefully analyzing the external forces and pressure points that bear upon government budgets over the long term. Expressed differently, trends in government expenditure are not only the consequence of political choices about how expansive or limited the role of government should be, but also the result of a range of forces that are beyond the control of politicians but which have huge impacts on government budgets.

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All this can be summed up in one big question. Will it be possible to contain the growth of government expenditure in coming decades, or are we headed inexorably for a new expansion phase — an era of bigger government?

Robinson, Marc. Bigger Government: The Future Of Government Expenditure in Advanced Economies