REVIEWS - Bigger Government

Bigger Government
The Future of Government Expenditure in Advanced Economies
Arolla Press
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WHAT TOP EXPERTS AND PRACTITIONERS THINK OF THIS BOOK:
"This deeply-researched and brilliantly-argued book is an honest, clear-minded assessment of the fiscal future that awaits advanced countries in response to changes in health care, income support, infrastructure deficits and other powerful drivers of public spending. Robinson's mastery of program details and socioeconomic trends makes this study essential reading for national leaders and public finance specialists"
Allen Schick, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution and Professor Emeritus, School of Public Policy, University of Maryland.

"This book by an internationally-renowned expert in public expenditure management provides a compelling analysis of major recent and future drivers of government spending in advanced economies.... The book is a wake-up call for policymakers, who need to think early and proactively how to contain and finance these escalating costs. It offers a number of suggestions, but also calls for more reflection and analysis on the very difficult policy trade-offs that these trends pose. In my view, a must-read!
Teresa Ter-Minassian, Director, Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund (2001-2008).

"Quantitative, meticulous and sobering"
Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator, Financial Times.

"This book represents a path-breaking original contribution to our understanding of the future of public finances in advanced economies. It challenges traditional dogmas on drivers of public spending and instead suggests that irrespective of political leanings of governments, advancements in health care technology, delayed actions on climate change and long-term care will drive public spending through the roof in coming decades in advanced countries. This book is a wake-up call for policymakers to take action now on emerging challenges or face the wrath of electorates in justifying higher taxes in future. It is a must-read book for policymakers, practitioners, scholars and students."
Anwar Shah, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution; Director, Governance Program, World Bank Institute (2004-2009).

"Financial pressures emanating from health, long-term care and climate change will translate into higher government spending irrespective of ideological orientations of governments. Marc Robinson underpins his thesis with impressive empirical evidence and deliberate arguments why alternatives appear unlikely. Hard stuff for all foes of big government."
Gerhard Steger, Austrian Federal Budget Director (1997-2014).

"Budgeting is often understood as a result of political strategies and struggles in the political arena, structured by budgeting techniques and frameworks. But when democratic representation works well, public budgets are in the long run determined by basic societal trends and citizens' needs. Marc Robinson's book invites us to take a journey to explore these fundamental trends. With a very pragmatic approach he takes stock of numerous theories and research on different areas of public spending and gives us a broad-based and lively insight into what the future might hold."
Martin Kelleners, Director, Ministry of Finance, Germany; Chair, OECD Network of Senior Budget Officials.

"Marc provides valuable 'contrarian' insights into the three causes for future increases in government spending... Bigger Government provides a well-researched alternative way of looking at the future of government spending."
Barry Anderson, former US Assistant Director for Budget and Acting Director of the Congressional Budget Office.








Arolla Press (2020)
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