The aim of this book is to provide a rather more comprehensive wide-ranging treatment of public sector economics than is usual. It deals with theory, policy and practice within the broad context of political economy and attempts a more general integration of them than is found in most other texts. It recognises that students invariably study other subjects simultaneously with economics, aiming to provide more of a multi-disciplinary approach than is usually the case. The book reflects the changing nature of 'public' in recognising that a textbook in this area has to be made less technical and mechanistic and more appreciative of political economy.