State Finances in Tamil Nadu 1960-85: A Review of Trends and Policy

Abstract

From Introduction: The study of public finance, most simply defined as the "complex of problems that centre around the revenue - expenditure process of government", is valuable for the access it provides to, and the light it throws on, state policies. Since Independence, there has been a sustained and significant expansion in the budgetary operations of the Centre and the States reflecting the increasing involvement of governments in diverse regulatory, welfare and investment activities. It is important in this context to understand how governments raise resources, on what purposes and how effectively such resources are spent, and what the impact of fiscal operations are on welfare and development,