What role can better quality of public finances play in supporting Europe's long-term economic growth prospects? This question was at the centre of the 2008 European Commission workshop on public finances. It was largely motivated by the pressures put on European economies and their budgets from...

1. Introduction: Market System and the Role of Government -- 2. Evaluating a Tax System and Related Measures -- 3. An Overview of Government Expenditures -- 4. An Overview of Government Revenues -- 5. Understanding the Budget Process -- 6. Budget Systems, Underlying Structures and...