Economic Rationalism in Canberra: A Nation-Building State Changes its Mind (Volume 0) - Softcover

Pusey, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521336619 ISBN 13: 9780521336611

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1989

Synopsis

Throughout the world since the 1970s, state and public sector reform has been driven by a conservative agenda emphasising notions of 'streamlining' and 'rationalisation'; Australia has been no exception. Michael Pusey undertakes a detailed analysis of top bureaucrats in Canberra who have been responsible for this recasting of national policy. He concludes that economist rationalist view dominate each of the key ministries, and have altered the traditional balance between the economy, the state and society. The book also discusses the social significance of economic rationalisation and public sector reform from a theoretical perspective, contributing to contemporary understanding of modernisation, public morality and citizenship in the new global order.

About this title

Book Description

Michael Pusey undertakes a detailed analysis of top bureaucrats in Canberra who have been responsible for emphasizing notions of 'streamlining' and 'rationalisation'. He discusses the social significance of economic rationalisation and public sector reform from a theoretical perspective, contributing to understanding of modernisation, public morality and citizenship.

Review

'In 1994 Pusey decided to embark on an ambitious project to discover what Middle Australia really thought. Get out there into the suburbs, dig and listen, he told himself.' Asia Intelligence

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1989
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521336619
• ISBN 13: 9780521336611
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 324