US local government

Author: Elinor Ostrom
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: Local government is an important component of a nation's political system. Without understanding the former, one cannot understand the latter. Every country has only one central government but multiple local governments. Local governments are more closely related to the daily lives of the people and have a closer connection with diverse geographical and social ecological environments. This is an introductory classic work that observes and analyzes the structure, functions, and issues of U.S. local government from a unique perspective. The author views U.S. local government through the lens of governance, not only providing us with a window to observe and understand U.S. local government but also sparking fresh thinking about local governments. Based on the logical foundation of distinguishing between the supply and production of public goods and services, the book elaborates on the theory of local public economics. It also captures the inherent tension between domination and autonomy, highlighting the evolution and development of the U.S. local government system. Since its publication in the 1980s, this book has been one of the most frequently cited works in the field of local government research.