Managing Local Governments

'Padovani and Young have produced the definitive textbook on management control systems for local government. A must for all students of public policy, public administration and public management.'

Stephen P. Osborne, Professor of International Public Management, University of Edinburgh Business School, UK

'This book by Padovani and Young recognizes the specificity of local government, it raises new answers to old questions, and it provides an operational view of responsibility centers. Padovani and Young do this in a very convincing way since the examples and the cases demonstrate scholarly evidence as well as a thorough knowledge of best practices.'

Geert Bouckaert, Director Public Management Institute, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium

'Padovani and Young have written an insightful book for managing local governments. It is highly comprehensive and balanced with financial and non-financial perspectives, which has rarely been done. This book should be read by anyone interested in public sector management. With new concepts and useful examples, the authors show how local governments can enhance the value of their services.'

Kiyoshi Yamamoto, Professor of Financial Management, The University of Tokyo, Japan

'Padovani and Young have made an important contribution to public sector management, not only in local governments, but more broadly as well. Their book can help to improve how public sector managers think at both strategic and operational levels. With intense citizen scrutiny over the public sector, this book is long overdue.'

Leslie K. Breitner, McGill University, Canada

'Padovani and Young’s important book makes clear that new ways of thinking about management and budgets are critical at a time of fiscal strain. Students moving into careers in 21st century local governments will benefit greatly from this book’s presentation of the tools available to exercise much-needed control over spending, revenues, and results.'

Sid Gardner, President, Children and Family Futures, Irvine, USA

'Written in a clear and challenging way, this book confronts the complexity of managing and steering local authorities whilst putting forward a strong vision, but remaining relevant to the specifics of the subject matter. At a time when the economic crisis will force communities to move from control of the resources to control of expenses, a book that draws from the dual experience of being both closely involved and somewhat distanced, bodes well for the readers who will thus be able to trigger ambitious changes, done in a rational way!'

Robert Fouchet, Director of Institut de Management Public et Gouvernance Territoriale, Université Paul Cézanne, France