Public Needs and Private Wants

Public Needs and Private Wants

Few beliefs are more deeply embedded in American popular wisdom than those concerning the inefficiency of government. In an era when liberals, moderates, and conservatives find little basis for common cause, criticizing government’s performance is a unifying ritual. The public sector particularly suffers in comparison to the private sector, which is viewed as less wasteful, more bottom-line oriented, and more attuned to shifting consumer demands


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