Microeconomics for Public Managers

Microeconomics for Public Managers presents a rigorous non-mathematical introduction to the study of microeconomics geared towards managers of nonprofit institutions.

• Provides an introduction to the economist’s toolkit for students destined for not-for-profit enterprises and public institutions
• Topics are selected for their relevance to the non-profit sector, enabling key issues to be covered in greater depth than standard microeconomic textbooks
• Pertinent case studies and cost-benefit analysis are utilized throughout
• Features end-of chapter problem sets and study questions
• Describes economic decision-making applicable to non-profit managers

• Accompanying website with instructor materials is available at www.blackwellpublishing.com/keating

Organizational Alternatives

Part I: Institutional Setting

Chapter 1. Managerial Economics in Public and Nonprofit Administration: An Overview

Chapter 2. Characteristics of the Government and Private Nonprofit Sectors

Part II: Consumer Theory and Public Goods

Chapter 3. Demand and Supply

Chapter 4. Estimating Client Choice

Chapter 5. Market Failure and Public Choice

Part III: Production Theory and Public Administration

Chapter 6. Production and Costs

Chapter 7. Market Structure in Government and Nonprofit Industries

Chapter 8. Selecting the Right Niche and Setting Client Fees

Chapter 9. Strategic Goals: If Not Profit, What?

Part IV: Input Markets and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Chapter 10. Employing Labor and Capital

Chapter 11. Cost-Benefit Analysis

Index

“I think this book begins to fill a serious gap in the market. Many students are turned off by economics because they don't see its applicability for their jobs. This book makes economics relevant to the NFP manager."
Robert T. Greenbaum, Ohio State University

“This book does a fine job meeting the needs of Public Administration students.”
John Graham, Rutgers University

“The Keatings’ approach of using cost-benefit analysis as a capstone is for the best, since it gets students to use what they have learned about markets and the information contained in market prices, and what they have learned about market failure, in a unified application.”
Michael Rushton, Indiana University

“The exercises are a lot more useful for public management students than the ones in standard economics textbooks. They are the kind I end up writing for myself.”
John McPeak, Syracuse University

Barry P. Keating teaches Non-profit Management, Managerial Economics, and Forecasting to undergraduate and graduate classes at the University of Notre Dame. He conducts business forecasting seminars internationally for corporate professionals. He is also a Heritage Foundation Salvatori Fellow.

Maryann O. Keating teaches Principles of Economics, Graduate Survey of Economics, and Public Finance at Indiana University South Bend. They have three adult children and live in South Bend, Indiana.

Microeconomics for Public Managers presents a rigorous non-mathematical introduction to the study of microeconomics for managers of non-profit institutions. This unique text is designed for students who intend to work at philanthropic organizations, universities, various levels of government, and other non-profit entities. Topics covered in this text are selected specifically for their relevance to the non-profit sector. This enables the key issues to be covered in greater depth than standard microeconomics textbooks and appropriate case studies and cost-benefit analysis to be extensively utilized. With problem sets and end-of-chapter questions, this textbook provides a pertinent and accessible introduction for students.