Book Description

Governmental and Nonprofit Accounting, Revised Sixth Edition provides a better balance between theory and practice than other texts, with the most up-to-date coverage. It provides readers with a thorough basis for understanding the logic for and nature of all of the funds and account groups of a government, with a unique approach that enables readers to grasp the entire accounting and reporting framework for a government before focusing on specific individual fund types and account groups.Includes coverage of the new reporting model standard: GASB Statement 34. Includes illustrations of government-wide financial statements and fund-based financial statements presented using the major fund approach. Points out the major changes required from the current guidance and explains and illustrates the requirements of the new model. Explains and illustrates the GASB Statement 31. Contains the latest revision of OMB Circular A-133 on single audits.Appropriate for undergraduate Accounting courses, such as Governmental Accounting, Public Sector accounting, Government and Nonprofit Accounting, and Fund Accounting. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Found it to be quite informative
I am not sure why the other reviewers had problems with this book. I actually found it to be quite easy to read and understandble in its explanations of terminology. I work for a software company which sells a budgeting tool. Since realigning over to our public sector division, I decided to buy this book in order to hone my governmental accounting skills. My accounting degree certainly helped and this books assumes a minimal set of accounting skills. The problems were quite helpful in reinforcing the concepts.

Certainly not the book to use
In general, this is the worst accounting book I have EVER been forced to decipher (didn't like our cost accounting book either). At my school, and probably elsewhere, ,everybody seems to think Acct 405 (Financial Acct 2) is the "hard" course, but Fin Acct 2, at least to me, has NOTHING on trying to learn governmental accounting from using this awful book.

Dazed and Confused...
I am currently a Masters level student who is taking a Governmental Accounting course. I have found this text to be somewhat confusing. The chapters and the information are very detailed however, the study questions introduce new terms and are hard to follow. This makes for a complicated and frustrating process for anyone who has not had a previous accounting course. I understand that there are not many books out there on this topic. However, a study guide or even the assistance of a glossary and some consistency in phrasing questions to be similar to the text would help. If I can't understand what the question is asking how am I to know if I understand what I thought I just read. The lack of pictures and graphics does not bother me and the blue ink while hard to get used to is easier on my eyes. The Powerpoint presentations were also helpful.

An excellent textbook
I used this textbook the last time I taught GovernmentalAccounting. The book is an excellent introduction to state and local government accounting and reporting, federal government accounting, not-for-profit organizations (colleges, universities, health care organizations, etc.), and public sector auditing. The 20 chapters have numerous illustrations of financial statements and flow charts relating each of the different fund types within specific organizations. The illustrations are both academic (i.e., written by the authors) and actual (e.g., City of Des Moines, Iowa). Where appropriate, there are chapter glossaries. Governmental accounting is unlike corporate accounting, in that both actual and budgetary amounts are shown in the financial statements provided to the external reader. The authors explain this clearly. The authors use t-accounts to show the interrelationship of the accounts and the flow of funds between the accounts. There also useful references to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board...

The previous comment shows a typical response from an undergraduate, similar to what I have encountered on teaching evaluations in my different classes. A number of students believe that a course should be "interesting." That is, more entertaining. (See Peter Sacks's book, _Generation X Goes to College_.) If someone doesn't find governmental accounting interesting, don't major in accounting. It is not a requirement for any other undergraduate major at any school I know; indeed, few schools even teach the course. People should major in areas that they find interesting.

On the other hand, anyone who wants to understand the construction and analysis of statements which present the operations and financial position of government and non-profit entities will benefit from a careful reading of this book. I have used it for directed readings (only one student reading on his or her own) successfully for motivated graduate students.

The previous commentator faults the book for lack of color. For this material, color adds almost nothing to comprehension, slightly to clarity and greatly to the cost. The book already costs $100, because the governmental accounting textbook market, with numerous competitors in it, is only 3,000-4,000 classroom adoptions per year (compared with over 50,000 a year for Principles of Accounting).

My experience as an author suggests that adding color would raise the cost of the book to at least $140. Would the previous reviewer be willing to spend the money in the hopes it would be more interesting?

I recommend this book.

Worst Accounting Book Ever
I just finished a Governmental Accounting class that used this textbook. It is by far the worst book I have had in 4 years of college. The examples are horrible. There is no color. Most accounting authors try to make the material interesting. This is a book that will turn potential accounting majors away from the field. ... Read more

Book Description

Unlike other government and not-for-profit accounting texts, this one is directed for both potential users and preparers of financial reports. Emphasis is placed on the significance of reported information and how both users and preparers can interpret and analyze accounting information. ... Read more

Book Description

Engstrom and Copley’s Essentials of Accounting for Governmental and Not-for-Profit Organizations, 6e is well received by those professors whose objective is to provide less detailed coverage than is available in larger texts, as well as by those whose objective is to prepare accounting majors for the uniform CPA Examination.This addition incorporates all the FASB, GASB and AICPA pronouncements passed since the last edition. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Frustration
This is a truly horrible book. It's written so poorly that the only way it can be used is as a look-up reference. If you don't have a really good instructor for Not-for-profit accounting, find one using a different book. You won't get much out of this.
The 7th Edition is just as bad as the 6th.

Worst Text I ever had to read
If it was possible to give this book a negetive star review I would.It has no organization, no structure, and makes no sense.It is by far the worst text I have ever had to read.Although the author is a professor, he must be a very bad one.He has no grasp on how students learn, and makes no attempt to link information together.He uses the same example throughout the entire text.As if in chapter 9, you rememeber what entry 14, is in chapter 3. A horrible book. It is easier to read the GASB statements than it is this book.DO NOT BUY IT!!

WARNING! Reading this book may cause extreme drowsiness.
WARNING!This book may cause drowsiness.Do not attempt to operate heavy machinery after reading this book.

It's too bad the author has absolutely no literary skills whatsoever.I'm no great author myself but you'd think by the time they got to the fifth edition all the errors would be gone and they would have improved upon the existing text.I guess the editors must have let this one slip through without actually reading what they were going to be publishing.

If you are unfortunate enough to have to buy this book then you will be dumber for having read it and may God have mercy on your soul.

Absolutely one of the WORST accounting textbooks
This book is perhaps the most poorly thought out text I've ever had the displeasure to read...The authors write this book in high level language and do a very poor job of explaining just what it is that they are attempting to convey to the reader.I think that I would actually rather read GASB doctrine than attempt to decode this text. If you are reading this review and you are a professor, please do NOT choose this text for your course.

Think twice before buying this text!
Astoundingly bad text.To say that this book is dry is a complement. The fact is that any introduction text should paraphrase and explain the more complicated issues involved.The authors do not do this.They borrow from the GASB standards word for word in order to fill out space in the text.See whatyou think of the following excerpt: "Accordingly, a distinctive characteristic of governmental accounting resulting from the need to demonstrate compliance with laws governing the sources of revenues available to governmental units and laws governing the utilization of those revenues is the formal reporting of the legally approved budget compared with actual results for the General Fund and all special revenue funds that have a legally adopted annual budget." Real nice for an intro book! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Essential for the professional in governmental accounting
The GFOA did an excellent job of explaining governmental accounting. The book has incorporated the new model as established in Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statement 34. The book is worth owning just see how a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) is prepared and looks under the GASB Statement 34 model.

While GFOA is not the standards setting body, it is important for professionals trying to achieve the Certificate of Excellence in Government Accounting for their CAFR to understand the GFOA's interpretation since they are the body running the awards program.

I would recommend this book for any person charged with managing the financial affairs of a governmental agency. ... Read more

Book Description

A practical application guide to ensure governmental GAAP compliance–updated annually

Wiley GAAP for Governments 2005 is a comprehensive guide to the accounting and financial reporting principles used by state and local governments as well as other governmental entities. Financial statement preparers, attestors, and readers will find its full coverage of authoritative accounting standards, coupled with many examples, illustrations, and helpful practice hints, extremely useful and user-friendly. Designed with the needs of the user in mind, a "New Developments" chapter keeps you informed of all of the important developments in governmental GAAP during the past year.

Warren Ruppel (Woodcliff Lake, NJ) is the assistant comptroller responsible for the accounting and financial reporting for the City of New York. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is the first comprehensive, scientifically based study of the nature and impact of intangibles. Weaving case studies and real-world examples with contemporary business theory, Baruch Lev

* establishes an economic framework to analyze managerial and investment issues concerning intangibles; * surveys the impact of intangibles on corporate performance and market values, including management difficulties, risk, questions of property rights, marketability, and cost structure; * analyzes information deficiencies associated with intangibles, including the major economic principles governing intangible investments, limits of management information systems, and recommendations for improved accounting disclosure; * sets forth a comprehensive information system-aimed at satisfying the needs of both internal and external decision makers-to reflect the impact and value of intangibles within the context of enterprise performance. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Concise analysis of intangible management
The discipline of intangible management (knowledge management) has been around for over a decade; there have been many attempts in better understanding & management of intangible assets, with different perspective (organizational learning, technology, strategy etc). Lev has provided a very concise analysis of intangible management with an economics perspective. His analysis is very systematic, robust, with support of empirical studies. I find his treatment of the subject coherent and enjoyable to read. I find the recommendation part slightly weak, the value chain scorecard does not provide significant enhancement over Kaplan & Norton's balanced scorecard.

Making the Invisible Visible
The topic of intangible assets is one of the most vexing issues facing corporations, investors and policymakers today. Professor Lev's book is an important contribution to the literature on intangible assets. The author is well-informed on the inadequacies of current accounting practices and his prescriptions for dealing with the problems are extremely insightful. What makes this book special is the author's obvious passion and enthusiasm for his subject. This book deserves more than five stars.

A unique combination of theory, evidence, and solutions
With the collapse of dot coms and many other high tech companies, many wonder whether intangibles should also go by the wayside. In his book, Lev persuasively argues otherwise. In today's environment, in both old and new economy sectors, the only systematic and sustainable drivers of value and growth are intangible assets, such as patents, brands, unique supply and distribution processes, and human resource practices.

This landmark book represents the most comprehensive and thorough economic analysis of intangibles to date. Building on the author's high-impact research and first-hand experience working with executives, consultants, and regulators, the book offers a coherent framework for understanding the fundamental economics of intangible assets. Baruch Lev identifies attributes of intangibles that are different from tangible assets (property, plant, and equipment), by focusing on their distinctive role in value-creation. He highlights the most critical issue concerning intangibles: the need to make relevant information available to outsiders.

Perhaps the most difficult job in tackling a challenging issue, such as intangibles, is to recommend a practical solution. Baruch Lev proposes an information system, the Value Chain Scoreboard, to enhance information disclosure about intangibles. A notable feature of the system is its emphasis of key drivers in the creation of valuable intangible assets, as opposed to ex post measurement of performance. Although the focus is on improving external information communication, its mission of reflecting the valuation-creation process of intangibles makes the system potentially useful for managers who want to monitor the performance of investment in intangibles.

With a wonderful blend of real-world stories and easily understood economic reasoning, the book also has tremendous educational value, in a variety of business disciplines. It is an especially valuable source for those interested in learning about managing knowledge-based business.

An educational must for the smart businessperson
This book makes a huge contribution to the intellectual and practical tool-kit of the smart businessperson. Smart businesspeople sense that intangibles can be the key to creating huge value in the New Economy. What Baruch Lev does so persuasively in his book is to clarify that general sense into sharp knowledge.

Intangibles have very different business attributes than do tangible investments in land, buildings, machinery, and the like. Baruch clearly and cleanly lays out the economic issues involved and summarizes the relevant evidence from a variety of business disciplines (a significant portion of which is from his own highly innovative research and real-world consulting experience).

The book is particularly accessible to anyone who has MBA. I've used the book successfully in my own teaching on the New Economy, and strongly recommend it to anyone interested in learning key insights about today's business environment.

Excellent Overall - weak in Human Capital
Overall, Lev has created a landmark review of the state-of-the science in Intangible Asset Valuation. I haven't found a better book on this very new area, particularly from an Academic Finance point of view.

My main quibble is with his lite treatment of human resource drivers of value. In making his conclusion, he places more weight on a working paper than he does on two peer-reviewed papers in good journals showing relationships between high-end HR practices and shareholder value.

Lev suggests nicely, though, how value gets created, and specific metrics (with empirical support) that are helpful in each part of the value chain. Rather than citing Kaplan & Norton, he creates his own "Value Chain Scoreboard". If he informed his approach with new ideas from Organizational Psychology (e.g. John Bodureau), Industrial Engineering and Marketing, and this would be 5 stars.

Overall, I like Jeanne DiFrancesco's (ProOrbis) ideas better for more concrete application of intangible value creation, measurement and optimal asset mix. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete overhaul of Contracting with the Federal Government, Third Edition to reflect developments and changes since 1992. Analysis of Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (major legislation enacted in 1995), and of significant changes in cost accounting standards and requirements, statutes, and regulations governing federal contracting process. With step-by-step instructions, and forms in a clear and concise process, this professional book incorporates relevant supplemental information. ... Read more

Book Description

In this comprehensive reference, Roy T. Meyers provides an invaluable tool for anyone who wants to learn how the government budgeting process works, where it doesn't work, and how it can be improved. Filled with insights and wisdom from thirty-six contributors, this book presents an encyclopedic account of budgeting innovations today. Seven sections and twenty-nine chapters cover everything from current basic processes to the uncertain future of budgeting. Handbook of Government Budgeting is the definitive resource for anyone interested in the ways governments acquire and spAnd money.

Nationally and internationally respected experts such as Bob Bland, Naomi Caiden, James Chan, Philip Cooper, Larry Jones, A. Premchand, Irene Rubin, and Barry White offer the reader a full spectrum of information and ideas gleaned from a broad base of practice and research. The contributors are authorities in the fields of political science, economics, accounting, and management. They include executives, managers, analysts, consultants, and academics who have studied or worked with governments. The combined wisdom of these experts ensures the most concise, complete, and thought-provoking compilation concerning government budgeting today.

Each section of the Handbook of Government Budgeting presents multiple chapters offering different perspectives on budgetary subjects. Topics include: an overview of government budgeting; credit markets, the economy, and budget balancing; taxation in budgeting; the informational foundations of budgeting; budgeting by institutions; politics, management, and analysis in budgeting; and budgeting over time for large amounts. This comprehensive volume will prove a priceless tool to government professionals as well as professors of budgeting courses. Budgeting students and practitioners will find up-to-date information on the latest budget issues and politics in governments across federal, state, and local levels.

The teaching supplement is available directly from the author.

Interested parties should e-mail him at meyers@umbc.edu. ... Read more

Book Description

The most practical, authoritative guide to governmental GAAP

Wiley GAAP for Governments 2004 is a comprehensive guide to the accounting and financial reporting principles used by state and local governments as well as other governmental entities. Financial statement preparers, attestors, and readers will find its full coverage of authoritative accounting standards coupled with many examples, illustrations, and helpful practice hints extremely useful and user-friendly. Designed with the needs of the user in mind, a "New Developments" chapter keeps you informed of all of the important developments in governmental GAAP during the past year. A look ahead to the status of current and future Governmental Accounting Standards Board standards and projects provides information on the very latest in standard-setting activities and covers:

• GASB Statement No. 40 Deposit and Investment Risk Disclosures
• GASB Statement No. 41 Budgetary Comparison Schedules–Perspective Differences
• GASB Technical Bulletin No. 2003-1 Disclosure Requirements for Derivatives Not Reported at Fair Value on the Statement of Activities
• GASB Exposure Draft Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans
• GASB Exposure Draft Accounting and Financial Reporting by Employers for Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions
• GASB Statement No. 42 Accounting and Financial Reporting for Impairment of Capital Assets and for Insurance Recoveries
• GASB Exposure Draft Economic Condition Reporting: The Statistical Section
• The latest GASB projects on pollution remediation liabilities, tobacco settlement accounting, and derivatives and hedging accounting

Here are some other highlights of Wiley GAAP for Governments 2004:

• A streamlined format helps readers find what they need to know quickly
• A comprehensive financial statement disclosure checklist assists preparers and attestors in confirming that their disclosures are complete
• New accounting standards, including GASB 34, are fully integrated into the text, and examples are provided in the related chapters

Wiley GAAP for Governments 2004 strives to be a thorough, reliable reference that you’ll use constantly. It’s designed to be kept on your desk rather than on your bookshelf. ... Read more

Book Description

Covering the essentials of fund accounting, this flexible book introduces the reader to the basic accounting principles at work in both governmental and not-for-profit organizations. This brief book divides most of the chapters into independent sections, which may be covered as separate units. Now includes a print update on GASB 34, packaged with the volume.Topics addressed include government and not-for-profit environments and characteristics, the use of funds in governmental accounting, the budgetary process, special revenue funds, debt service funds and capital projects funds, proprietary and fiduciary funds, general reporting principles, government-wide financial statements, fundamentals of accounting and reporting and analysis of financial statements and financial condition.For Accountants and Auditors studying for professional certification. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

>Government,
This book concentrates on govermental accounting, and really only has two chapters that specifically apply to non-profit accounting.

Introduction to Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting
I would rate this book very highly for the non-accounting professional. The book takes the high level of technical terms and reduces it so that it is user friendly for all groups of business professionals.

I would strongly recommend this book to those readers who have a basic understanding of governmental accounting. ... Read more

Book Description

The textbook is designed to introduce readers to the accounting procedures and financial reporting of nonprofit entities; i.e., state and local governments), voluntary health and welfare organizations, hospitals and other health care providers, private and public colleges and universities, and other not-for-profit organizations. It is based on the latest official pronouncements and interpretations of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), as well as the industry audit guides issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting (a.k.a., "The Blue Book") published by the Government Finance Officers Association. ... Read more

Book Description

The race for the White House may seem like a marathon, but the nomination process is becoming a sprint, with the starting gun fired earlier each time. Where state primaries and caucuses were once spread out over a period of three or four months, most are now crammed into a four—or five—week interval at the very beginning of the delegate selection calendar. The compression and hastening of the nomination season are changing the nature of the presidential selection process, the most visible pillar of American democracy. Despite the importance of this issue in American politics, however, too little systematic analysis has been done on the topic. This is the first book to offer a comprehensive examination of the front-loading problem in all its facets.

William Mayer and Andrew Busch define the parameters of the front-loading question as well as its impact. They trace the history that shaped the current system and explain why it is such a critical element of presidential elections. Most important, the authors present a detailed analysis of all the major proposals for coping with front-loading and of the political and constitutional obstacles for reform. While they conclude that there is no easy solution to this complex issue, they identify a general direction for reform efforts. They also feel that the political parties should be the prime movers in formulating and implementing changes. ... Read more

Book Description

Intangibles are harder to measure, harder to quantify, often more difficult to manage, evaluate, and account for than tangible assets. There is no common language for sharing information about intangible sources of value, and the language used tends to be descriptive rather than quantitative and concrete.

Unseen Wealth stresses the importance of developing standards for identifying, measuring, and accounting for intangible assets, and recommends actions to government and business for improving the quality and quantity of available information about intangible investments. The book articulates a three-pronged set of reforms to help companies construct better business and reporting models, improve the quality of financial reporting, and clarify intellectual property right laws.

Unseen Wealth was developed by the Brookings Task Force on Intangibles, which includes business leaders, consultants, accounting professionals, economists, intellectual property lawyers, and policy analysts. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"Unseen Wealth" Helps Us See The Intangibles
Just goes to show you how good Amazon's recomendation engine is - I wouldn't have gone looking for this title, but I am very glad I have it now. This slim volume (only 120 pages, including the notes) goes a long way towards illuminating the importance of "intangible" items such as intellectual capital, research and development, brand names, etc., are to the economic growth and wealth of our society. As the preface to chapter one, Blair and Wallman quote Attorney Lloyd Cutler (commenting on the proposed breakup of Microsoft), "Given that no company can establish a monopoly on brains, how do you keep the people that make it work? There are no tangible assets to divest. There is intellectual property and that's about it - and a building." Exactly! As the events of September 11th so horrily illustrated, you could burn the plant to the ground, but as long as you have a repository of your critical business information, you can resume business anywhere. How we view and deal with our intangible assets may be the one thing that determines whether a company survives or not. I think all managers everywhere should read this book. ... Read more

Book Description

For the first time in decades, federal accounting practices have been altered by significant changes imposed by Congress and regulatory agencies, as well as by the establishment in 1990 of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASB). These changes affect the hundreds of thousands of people involved on a daily or repeated basis with planning, budgeting, accounting, processing, and reporting on the activities of federal government programs, including the beneficiaries of federal loans and loan guarantees. Knowledge of how to "keep the books Straight" is vital to anyone conducting such business. Here is the only book to encompass all the recent revisions including the changes by the new FASB and the Chief Financial Officers Act. Written in nontechnical language for both the professional and nonprofessional, Wiley Federal Accounting Handbook provides all you need to know about the what, why, when, and how of federal financial management, including:

• The federal budget—process, phases, and concepts
• Contracts and grants
• Nonappropriated funds activities
• Costing of entities, programs, and activities
• Interagency expenditures, receipts, transfers, reimbursements, and refunds
• Assets, liabilities, and net entity position
• And much more

• federal program managers and analysts
• financial managers and budget analysts
• auditors and accountants
• legislators and their staffs
• academics, researchers, and students
• anyone doing business with the federal government

Reviews (1)

Knowledge of Account is main "Key" to Success
Often world is so faster to investing money and also making excess return from investing. Every business (small/big) wants excess profit from less investment. in stock markets or in industry all people wants excess money for living well. and provide good facilities to family.

So, time have came to know how you make money in less investment or less capital. how many keys you use in current period and so you can develope your knowledge by studing accounting books. which contain finance management,(working capital) and employee management. Also flexible with market situations. if you want to make money, you should get knowledge of Accounts and also market, time management. so, "when you need money and success, you have information of Accounts and its related factors or Keys". Information/Knowledge is key to Success! ... Read more

Book Description

This book examines the failure of economic reform in Russia since 1991, when Boris Yeltsin proclaimed his commitment to economic stabilization, privatization, and price liberalization. Optimism over Russia's market reforms vanished with the crash of August 1998, when the ruble lost over 70 percent of its value and banks defaulted on their debts and forward currency contracts. Contrary to Yeltsin's reform promises, the Russian economy of the 1990s more closely resembled a Soviet model than a market-driven one. The Logic of Economic Reform in Russia illuminates the general problems of establishing market economies in settings where the institutional system to support the market has not had decades to develop. Suggesting that corruption may be associated with growth in the early stages of capitalism, Jerry F. Hough argues that the disappointing results of Yeltsin's reform efforts were not the product of Russian culture or history, but the logical consequences of rational men responding to the incentive system created by economic reform. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents national environmental, or "green" accounting as it has developed in Europe and other parts of the world. It introduces the most recent methods developed through the United Nations Statistical Department and other international organizations, but bridges the gap between the superficial treatment of environmental accounting in economics textbooks and environmental literature, on the one hand, and the highly technical manuals of international organizations, on the other.

Joy Hecht begins with a history and introduction to national income accounting. The first part of her book explains how the environmental accounts build on the structure of the 1993 System of National Accounts. She then shows the UN approach to accountingapplied to pollution, recycling, and the management of natural resources such as forests, minerals,and fisheries. The third section discusses how the accounts approach green GDP and other macroeconomic indicators. The book concludes by going beyond the UN structures to discuss other adjusted macroeconomic measures and how accounting data can be used to build them.

National Environmental Accounting is a non-technical introduction to an increasingly important field. It is a must-read for anyone interested in how environmental accounts can help society move towards greater sustainability.

Book Description

The struggle between politicians and bureaucrats for control over public policy decision making is an important feature of politics in all advanced democratic political systems. It has a particular intensity in Japan, especially now with the bureaucracy under attack for its policy failures and its resistance to reform and with the political party system going through a period of fundamental change. Japan is in the midst of the search for a new framework for policymaking, a search that involves not only the relationship between politicians and bureaucrats but that between the Prime Minister's Office and the governing party organizations, the role of Diet committees, and the issue of staff support for politicians, parties, and the prime minister and cabinet.

Following an overview written by volume editor Gerald L. Curtis, this book offers the perspective of six politicians from the Liberal Democratic, Democratic, and New Komeito parties who represent a new generation of politicians in Japan attempting to design a new architecture for policymaking. Each of them discusses the role that politicians play in the policy process from the perspective of a specific substantive policy issue. Two chapters, one by a member of the LDP and another by a Democratic Party member, offer differing perspectives on banking system reform. Also included are chapters by LDP politicians on education and information technology, one by a Democratic Party politicians on reform of the government's huge public works programs, and another by a member of the New Komeito on revision of the Commercial Code. Together these chapters provide important analysis of several critical issues confronting the Japanese political economy today and insights in the Japanese debate about the role politicians do and should play in policymaking. ... Read more

Book Description

PREPARE FOR THE PARTNERSHIPS OF THE FUTURE

This invaluable guide through the complex but highly worthwhile partnering between public and private entities in developing and constructing a wide range of building projects offers objective, comprehensive information integral to both the public and private partners. Included here is a powerful and creative five—part approach to transforming a financially unfeasible project into a project attractive to the private capital markets that covers:

• The tangible and intangible ingredients required for a successful public/private partnership
• How to customize a partnership to meet each partner’s needs, acceptable level of risk, responsibility, and economic returns
• Step—by—step guidelines on completing the developer Request for Qualification (RFQ) and the Request for Proposals (RFP) process

Including detailed descriptions of several case studies pertinent to both sides, this unique manual will be indispensable to government and university real estate officials, developers, architects, contractors, investment bankers, consultants, attorneys, engineers, and the array of other professionals involved in the public/private finance, design, development, construction, and facility management of government, university, school district, and commercial buildings. ... Read more