'A long professional and personal association with Francesco Forte accustoms one to the extraordinary breadth of his knowledge, understanding and original thinking not only on economic but also legal and political questions. Principles of Public Economics displays all these estimable qualities to the full, adding for good measure a style and content that must attract both student and savant alike.'

- Sir Alan Peacock, Heriot-Watt University, UK

'Francesco Forte has taught public economics and political economy for more than fifty years. He has served as Minister of Finance in Italy as well as a member of the Italian parliament. Forte has lived through and contributed to the development of public finance in a way that few of us can equal. In this text, in which the history of ideas is given a prominent role, Forte offers a thoughtful and at times critical exposition of the field of public economics as a whole.'

- Stanley Winer, Carleton University, Canada

'Bringing his life-long teaching and research experience in this field to the task, the author offers a comprehensive treatise of public economics that is distinctive in its thoroughgoing public choice approach and its emphasis on real decision-making processes in modern democracy.'

- Viktor J. Vanberg, Walter Eucken Institut, Germany

Francesco Forte, Emeritus Professor, Department of Public Economics, University of Rome 'La Sapienza', Italy