Solving Problems Without Large Government: Devolution, Fairness, and Equality

(Hardback)

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Solving Problems Without Large Government circumvents sterile discussions of federalism and privatization by discussing the potential role of sub-local government-assisted entities in providing effective and fair access to services. Some readers will be astonished at the numerous examples of vital social functions which have already been handled at this level, in a variety of societies throughout history. The proper use of small institutions, Liebmann argues, can actually serve to foster greater economic equity and political power.

Reviews

"At last, after so many calls for a revival of civil society, comes a practical handbook demonstrating how a broad range of functions and services canbe organized on local levels. In this illuminating work, George Liebmann effectively rebuts myths about devolution by showing that small organizations can safeguard individual and minority rights more effectively than judicial review and that decentralization in fiscal matters can lead to more, not less, queality. This book is the third in a trilogy that makes Liebmann our premier write on the practical aspects of subsidiarity."-Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard Law School.
"Most discussion of "community" are vague and vapid. But not George Liebmann's. Solving Problems demonstrates once again that no competitor of Liebmann's knows more, and has thought more deeply, about the structure of the governments closest to the people. Liebmann's fine new work is full of nuggets of new information and flashes of original insight."-Robert C. Ellickson, Walter E. Meyer Professor of Property and Urban Law, Yale Law School
Those in charge of America's cities badly need to grasp both the philosophy and the practicality of the examples and techniques Liebmann describes. Perhaps one day soon astute mayors will get the word. When they do, they will find this little book to be a gold mine of valuable ideas and examples.-Reason Magazine
"Those in charge of America's cities badly need to grasp both the philosophy and the practicality of the examples and techniques Liebmann describes. Perhaps one day soon astute mayors will get the word. When they do, they will find this little book to be a gold mine of valuable ideas and examples."-Reason Magazine

Author Bio

GEORGE W. LIEBMANN is an attorney in Baltimore, and is the author of The Little Platoons: Sub-Local Governments in Modern History and The Gallows in the Grove: Civil Society in American Law. He has been Simon Industrial and Professional Fellow at the University of Manchester and a Visiting Fellow at Wolfson College, Cambridge.