In modern economies, the public authority entrusted to manage the public affairs of the community is the state. In fulfilling their objectives the public decision makers assume a number of tasks according to the doctrines embraced by the government. The government results as an outcome of the election process and thus, faithful to its own doctrine is more or less invasive in the economy provides more or less protection and public goods therefore increasing or decreasing its spending according to its needs. The final outcome pursued by the state is the welfare of its citizens. Eventually, the way this goal is achieved as well as the perception the society has regarding the way the state performs is a matter of choice the state makes in order to fulfill its tasks. Traditionally, the main roles assumed by the state are: the distributive role, the regulation role, the stabilising and the assurance role.

public sector, governance, public spending, performance