Controlling Government Spending: The Ethos, Ethics, and Economics of Expenditure Management

A persistent problem faced by governments in developing and industrial countries, both at central and sub-national levels, relates to the control of burgeoning public expenditures. In recognition of this problem, governments have made several efforts to reform the operational systems of planning and control of their expenditures. These efforts, which reached a critical stage during the nineties, have not, by and large, been successful. Thus expenditure management systems are in the throes of a serious crisis and in the absence of immediate efforts to address the contributing factors, the situation is bound to deteriorate further.

In this book, the author examines the factors contributing to expenditure increases and the reasons for the less-than-successful endeavours of governments in controlling these. As the factors contributing to the on-going crisis are different and require specific strategies, each chapter is self-contained and provides abundant material to formulate policy packages that can lead to strengthen expenditure management systems. The volume discusses the ethos and ethics of expenditure management and lays out a clear and pragmatic approach to the problem.