Includes bibliographical reference (p. 456-472) and index.

The public sector in the economy -- Benchmark model of the economy: positive and normative approaches -- Public goods and externalities -- Imperfect competition -- Equity and social welfare -- Public choice theory -- Public expenditure and growth -- Poverty, fiscal incidence and service delivery in South Africa -- Social security -- Cost-benefit analysis -- Introduction to taxation and tax equity -- Tax efficiency, administrative efficiency and flexibility -- Income taxation -- Taxation of wealth -- Taxes on goods and services, and tax reform -- Fiscal policy -- Public debt and debt management -- Fiscal federalism.

How does globalisation impact on a developing country like South Africa? How do patterns of taxation in industrialised countries and developing countries differ? How does tax efficiency affect service delivery? Public Economics 6e is a southern African text on the subject, written by well-respected and well-known South African experts. Dealing with current issues such as social security and health care, the textbook demonstrates how public economic theory is relevant to the real-world context. Cross-references to and examples from countries making up the southern African region are made throughout the text in view of the increased interaction and economic cooperation between these countries. Public Economics sixth edition equips senior undergraduate and postgraduate students with basic analytic skills to demonstrate the application of these to practical issues.