Introduction to the Management of Public Finance: A South African perspective is an introductory work on public financial management for undergraduate students at universities, technikons and technical colleges. It is an abstract of the same topics covered in Public Financial Management, but couched in simpler terms. Greater emphasis is placed on facts and theories than the philosophy of the subject. Each chapter can serve as an individual lecture, since it starts with a study goal and learning objectives and ends with possible examination questions.
This text lays a sound foundation for undergraduate study of public financial management and the content can be outlined briefly as follows:
Chapter 1. Why governments need money
Chapter 2. General goals and objectives of government
Chapter 3. Goals of the modern state
Chapter 4. Government functions and public services
Chapter 5. Public services
Chapter 6. Financial control over the executive authority
Chapter 7. Government revenue: income tax
Chapter 8. Government revenue: property tax
Chapter 9. Government revenue: consumption tax
Chapter 10. Government revenue: user charges, consumer tariffs and nominal levies
Chapter 11. Government expenditure and the budget
Chapter 12. The budget cycle
Chapter 13. Provincial financial management
Chapter 14. Inventory management
