There is a wealth of literature covering this very fashionable topic. The ‘public choice’ approach which has influenced the presentation of this subject is explained in:
James Buchanan et al. (1978) The Economics of Politics, Reading No. 18, Institute of Economic Affairs: London.
Both the authors contributed to this volume.
A most useful standard text is:
Peter M. Jackson (1982) The Political Economy of Bureaucracy, Philip Allan: Hemel Hempstead.
Questions of purchasing policy, subsidy and bureaucracy are obviously closely linked to one another. Therefore, it is useful to acquire some knowledge of governmental procedures in controlling public expenditure. A wide-ranging and fascinating personal account of such matters is to be found in:
Leo Pliatzky (1982) Getting and Spending, Basil Blackwell: Oxford.
A general description of expenditure control coupled with instructive case studies on measuring departmental performance is provided by:
Andrew Likierman (1988) Public Expenditure: The Public Spending Process, Penguin: Harmondsworth.
