"Przeworski has the ambition to address the big questions, the ability to answer them, and the tenacity to make the answers correct. This book is part of a dying breed: it is a general introduction with enough depth that even the most advanced reader can learn something from it. Written in a feisty, accessible style, it puts the political back into political economy." Michael Munger, Duke University

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Decentralized Mechanisms: 2. Market miracles and market failures; 3. Incomplete markets, imperfect information; 4. Principal-agent framework; Part II. Centralized Mechanisms: 5. The state; 6. Governments and private agents: regulation; 7. Politicians and bureaucrats: oversight; 8. Citizens and politicians: representation; Part III. The State and the Economy: 9. Government and economic growth; 10. Government and redistribution; 11. Government and insurance; 12. Epilogue; 13. Additional references.

"Przeworski has the ambition to address the big questions, the ability to answer them, and the tenacity to make the answers correct. This book is part of a dying breed: it is a general introduction with enough depth that even the most advanced reader can learn something from it. Written in a feisty, accessible style, it puts the political back into political economy." Michael Munger, Duke University

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Decentralized Mechanisms: 2. Market miracles and market failures; 3. Incomplete markets, imperfect information; 4. Principal-agent framework; Part II. Centralized Mechanisms: 5. The state; 6. Governments and private agents: regulation; 7. Politicians and bureaucrats: oversight; 8. Citizens and politicians: representation; Part III. The State and the Economy: 9. Government and economic growth; 10. Government and redistribution; 11. Government and insurance; 12. Epilogue; 13. Additional references.

"Przeworski has the ambition to address the big questions, the ability to answer them, and the tenacity to make the answers correct. This book is part of a dying breed: it is a general introduction with enough depth that even the most advanced reader can learn something from it. Written in a feisty, accessible style, it puts the political back into political economy." Michael Munger, Duke University

• 1. Introduction; Part I. Decentralized Mechanisms: 2. Market miracles and market failures; 3. Incomplete markets, imperfect information; 4. Principal-agent framework; Part II. Centralized Mechanisms: 5. The state; 6. Governments and private agents: regulation; 7. Politicians and bureaucrats: oversight; 8. Citizens and politicians: representation; Part III. The State and the Economy: 9. Government and economic growth; 10. Government and redistribution; 11. Government and insurance; 12. Epilogue; 13. Additional references.