Government has a vital role to play even in facilitating the effective functioning of marketsDSto ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place, to sustain macroeconomic stability, to provide a framework for effective interaction with the international economy. It also has a responsibility to correct the market's inclinations in certain directions, in particular to provide a fuller perspective on the future, to give direction in critical sectors, and, importantly, to fulfil a number of social objectives. The challenges lie in identifying policies and selecting instruments that enable the government to fulfil these roles complementing the contribution of markets.
These companion volumes examine the highly topical issue of the adequacy of markets as an instrument of economic and social development. In this era of transition and experimentation in economic management by governments, a group of prominent international economists was brought together to distill their thinking on the changing role of government in the development process. The first volume discusses the broad questions; the second volume breaks down the analysis into more detailed topics.
These companion volumes examine the highly topical issue of the adequacy of markets as an instrument of economic and social development. In this era of transition and experimentation in economic management by governments, a group of prominent international economists was brought together to distill their thinking on the changing role of government in the development process. The first volume discusses the broad questions; the second volume breaks down the analysis into more detailed topics.