A Government Reinvented
A Study of Alberta's Deficit Elimination Program
Published on 1. May 1997
Book
Paperback/Softback
526 pages
978-0-19-541269-7 (ISBN)
Description
This volume is the culmination of an objective study of the aggressive attack on the Alberta deficit launched by Premier Ralph Klein's government in 1993. Klein's was the first Canadian province to introduce drastic measures to eliminate its deficity solely by means of expenditure cuts. After only two years, a $3.4 billion deficit had become a $958 million surplus. This book aims to answer the question, "how was the goal achieved so quickly"? The research needed to answer this question was distributed among nine experts in the fields of economics, education, and political science. The resulting papers were presented and critiqued at a conference in Banff, Alberta in November 1995. This book features the revised research papers, with parallel commentaries by specialists in economics, law, and public administration. The book examines not only the Klein government's specific cost-cutting strategies, but also general topics such as: theories of government budgeting and bureaucracy, institutional design and public policy, and the delivery of government services.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Canada
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 27 mm
Weight
700 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-541269-7 (9780195412697)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
1: Introduction. Part I Overview and Theory. 2: Robert L. Mansell: Fiscal Restructuring in Alberta: An Overview. Kenneth Norrie: Comments on Chapter 2. 3: Kenneth J. McKenzie: Institutional Design and Public Policy: A Microeconomic Perspective. Stanley Winer: Comments on Chapter 3. 4: Ronald D. Kneebone: Institutional Design and Public Policy: A Macroeconomic Perspective. Bryne Purchase: Comments on Chapter 4. Part II The Process Behind the Reforms. 5: Ronald D. Kneebone and Kenneth J. McKenzie: The Process Behind Institutional Reform in Alberta. Michael J. Trebilcock: Comments on Chapter 5. 6: Paul Boothe: The New Approach to Budgeting in Alberta. 7: Ronald D. Kneebone and Kenneth J. McKenzie: Alberta's Budgetary Response to Fiscal Shocks. Part III Implementation by Department. 8: M.S. Shedd: Family and Social Services, the Alberta Deficity Elimination Program, and Welfare Reform. Douglas W. Allen: Comments on Chapter 8. 9: Richard H.M. Plain: The Role of Health Care Reform in the Reinventing of Government in Alberta. R.G.Beck: Comments on Chapter 9: The Effects of Institutional Changes on Health Care Reform. 10: J.C. Herbert Emery: New Directions? Government Spending Cuts and Alberta's Institutional Resilience in Advanced Education. Jonathan Kesselman: Comments on Chapter 10: Advanced Education Policies in Canada: Restraint for What Purpose?. 11: Christopher J. Bruce and Arthur M. Schwartz: Education: Meeting the Challenge. Stephen B. Lawton: Comments on Chapter 11. 12: Christopher J. Bruce: Rethinking the Delivery of Government Services. Douglas S. West: Comments on Chapter 12. Part IV Public Opinion and Commentary. 13: Keith Archer and Roger Gibbins: What Do Albertans Think? The Klein Agenda on the Public Opinion Landscape. Linda Trimble: Comments on Chapter 13. 14: Christopher J. Bruce, Ronald D. Kneebone, and Kenneth J. McKenzie: A Government Reinvented?. Notes on Contributors. Index. Acknowledgements