Public Finance and Public Policy: Responsibilities and Limitations of Government

This is one of those textbooks I found in my university library that was so good that I swore to one day buy it when not restricted to a student-budget. The textbook is refreshingly coherent and comprehensive, in difference to most books on public economic/finance. It is not bound to a specific country to the same degree as other books on this subject, which makes it particularly relevant to international learners studying at foreign universities as well as people who want to focus on the economics and not country-specific policies. Technically you will benefit if you have studied intermediate microeconomics before you pick this book up. The mathematics in each chapter is on the same level as most intermediate books on microeconomics such as Pindyck's Microeconomics (Pie), Varian's Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach, Perloff's Microeconomics and similar. The appendix of each chapter has extra in-depth mathematical coverage where you need to know basic calculus, but even these are quite basic and are on the same level as books such as Bradley's Essential Mathematics for Economics and Business, Jacques' Mathematics for Economics and Business, 3rd Ed. and similar. If you have worked with books like Chiang's Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics or Blume's Mathematics for Economists then you are more than qualified for this book, technically speaking. Regarding reader-friendliness the book is on the same level as Mankiw, Blanchard, Todaro and other equally clear-worded academic writers. What I find unique about the book is how Hillman incorporates philosophical aspects into the discussion every now and then, although not extensive they are enough to make you think about what you are learning and adds an extra dimension to your knowledge. It also reminds you that public finance/economics has a strong political component.