This paper examines the development of general government finance and employment within fifteen industrialized democracies during the post-World War II era. Annual time series, extending, where possible, from 1950 through 1988, are analyzed (as well as detailed in the appendix to the paper). Using a variety of accounting schemes, the changing contours of government's control over economic resources are described. It is pointed out that while the growth in government spending relative to GDP has slowed down during the 1980's, the general inability or unwillingness to accelerate the growth in revenues has led in many cases to a significant increase in public debt. This has been accompanied by a squeeze on many spending items, particularly in the area of investment, as interest payments on the debt absorb more and more funds. While growth in government employment has continued, though at a slower pace than in the decades of the '60's and 70's, there has been some marked progress in bringing the cost of public employment into line with what is occurring in the private sector. This latter development is symptomatic of the convergence in price movements that has occurred; during the last decade or so governments have not continued to leap ahead of the private sector, particularly households, in terms of rising costs.