The Economics of Government Complexity and the Practice of Public Finance

Vito Tanzi, Independent Researcher,

Dr Vito Tanzi has a Harvard PhD in Economics, which he received in 1967. He was Professor of Economics at the American University (1967-76), Head of the Tax Policy Division at the IMF (1974-1981), President of the International Institute of Public Finance (1990- 1994) at the Commendatore della Repubblica Italiana, Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the IMF (1981-2000), and Undersecretary for Economy and Finance with the Italian Government (2001-2003). Dr Tanzi has been an independent research scholar since 2003. He has received five honorary degrees from universities in four countries and several other prizes. The economic effect 'The Tanzi effect' was named after him.

Part I: Historical Developments and the Growing Economic Role of the State
1. Introduction
2. Government Role and Public Spending: Historical Background
3. Hayek, Keynes, and the Economic Role of the State
4. From the Keynesian to the Supply-Side Revolution
5. Why the Positive and the Normative Roles of the State Differ?
6. The Political Economy of Fiscal Deficit Reductions
7. The Theory versus the Reality of Fiscal Policy
Part II: On the Growth of Complexity in Policy
8. Complexity, Systemic Failure, and Public Policies
9. The Design of Social Policy and Welfare Systems
10. Complexity, Corruption, and Tax Evasion
11. The Elusive Harmony between Government and Market Roles
12. Issues with the Current Uneven Income Distributions
13. Complexity in Stabilization Policy