A remarkable insight into one of our most influential institutions
`A massive study of the planning and control of public expenditure
in Britain since the introduction of cash limits in the mid-1970s
... this is the most thorough and comprehensive study of public
expenditure available.'
Times Higher Education Supplement
`Substantial study ... Thain and Wright's book stands as the
definitive work in this area; impressively informative.'
Parliamentary Affairs
`The authors have undertaken the most comprehensive and exhaustive
analysis of the planning and control of public expenditure in
Britain ever published ... this is a book that ought to be read by
all students of British politics, by new institutionalists,
budgetary politics specialists, and students of the comparative
economic policymaking process. It gives great insight into
policymaking within the original Westminster model at a time when
this is more
under strain than ever before.'
Paul Whiteley, American Political Science Review, vol.90 no.4,
1996
`Some books do not need long reviews. They need only one adjective
to describe them. This book falls into that category and the
adjective is 'monumental' ... it is authoritative administrative
and contemporary history ... the book is both theoretically
informed and policy relevant ... Thain and Wright provide the
definitive account of the planning and control of public
expenditure in Britain between 1976 and 1993. It should be in every
library and, even
at £60, every academic studying public expenditure will have to own
a copy.'
Political Studies, vol.XLV no.4 1997
`This book is likely to be of considerable interest to anyone
wishing to consider the relevance of developments in the UK as part
of the comparative study of public administration ... This book is,
in my opinion, the most detailed and authoritative study of the
work of a department of central government ever published ... As
far as I know, no other study of a central government department
has been so well resourced. Moreover, it was undertaken by
senior
academics with well established reputations in this field ... The
detail contained in the book is impressive ... Some of the general
findings of the research are ... supportive of what many readers
will have
already suspected, and it is good to have authoritative
confirmation.'
Governance
Ask a Question About this Product More... |