Taking a critical approach, it examines the key concepts and ideas of public management. Comparative case studies introduce students to public management ideas from the US, the UK, and Europe. The new edition is fully updated to reflect the financial crisis and its impact on the way public services are now being reformed across the world.

Introduction
PART I: THE CONTEXT OF PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
Public and Private Management
Public Services After the Financial Crisis
The Role of the State in Public Services
Changing Ideas about Public Management
PART II: ORGANISATIONAL IDEAS IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT UNDER CHALLENGE
Paying for Public Services
The Use of Markets in the Public Sector
The Role of Users in Public Services
PART III: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN PUBLIC MANAGEMENT
Managing Performance in a Time of Austerity
Professionals in Public Management
PART IV: CONCLUSION
Putting it all Together: Managing Contradictions in Public Management.

This is a refreshing and contemporary text: it discusses current public services in the light of major recent developments (after the financial crisis), is broadly embedded in the academic and social science literatures and covers a lot of ground well. I found it an intelligent and illuminating discussion of the current state of play in public services management' - Ewan Ferlie, Professor of Public Services Management, Department of Management, King's College London, UK 'Ian Greener is to be congratulated for providing a clear, critical and up to date account of the problems faced by today's public managers. The recent edition of his book not only builds on the strength of the earlier work, but also expands significantly on its analysis of the challenges created by the current climate of austerity. I recommend this book without hesitation.' - Matthias Beck, Professor of Management, Queen's University Management School, Queen's University Belfast, UK Reviews of first edition: '...this is a very valuable book. Ian Greener has tackled the difficult task of writing a text on public management which is both accessible and critical and he has succeeded admirably.' - The Journal of Social Policy 'Greener's book will be invaluable reading for anyone seeking a grounding in the key ideas and issues concerning public management, whether they are a researcher, student, or a manager in a public sector organization'. - Management Learning