How can government stay linked to its citizens? Across the world, governments' basic principles are turned on their heads as global markets, weakened national states, and active citizens emerge. Governments increasingly act not alone, but many governments and private groups make policy jointly - labeled 'governance'. But this raises new concerns for adequate citizen responsiveness. Leaders and parties previously considered left or right make unexpected choices - as leaders explore Third Ways, New Political Cultures, and more. As policy choices grow more complicated, they are harder to present to citizens - which undermines citizen legitimacy of parties and elected officials.

How can government maintain democratic accountability? This volume explores new answers by probing citizen involvement in specific cities and countries the world over. There is no single problem, hence no single remedy. But by contrasting key elements of national and local contexts, this volume offers lessons about how citizens are variously activated; about what works, where, and why. From specific results emerge insights about how citizens may drive policy, or be ignored, in a time of turbulence and rapid cultural change for government policy making.

... contributing scholars consider the impact that government regulations, policies and other forces--including innovation, tax reform, employee disincentives, academic partnerships, the costs of complying with government stipulations--have actually had on small business growth. Based on an examination of policy efforts in the late 1980s, the book attempts to reveal the changing emphasis in the nature of the debate regarding small business in today's economy. "Entrepreneurial Economy RevieW"

"Small Business in a Regulated Economy" is the first comprehensive exploration of the impact that government regulations, policies, and other forces have on the formation and growth of small business in the United States. A collection of original essays by distinguished scholars, the book makes an important contribution to business literature by raising fundamental issues related to small business operating in a regulatory economy, identifying the implications of public policies which inhibit or encourage small business growth and development, and defining the nature and character of the policy area. In addition to thoroughly examining the role that government has played in small business regulation, the contributors also make suggestions and recommendations concerning the role government should play in the future to spur small business growth and success.

This work studies urban problems and policy. It addresses the socio-economic context of the Metropolitan region. It also discusses: fragmentation, divisiveness and governmental organization; divisiveness and law enforcement; divisiveness and the social services; and, divisiveness and regional development.