This book presents persuasive arguments in support of public service and those who work within it. Clearly, some services should come under government control: public safety, highways, armed and emergency service, water, sewage, parks, schools. Others, however, are operating in answer to problems that society fails to solve. The public sector requires complex problem-solving processes - never simple solutions - and, despite the negative image imprinted on the public consciousness, Government at Work shows how so-called bureaucrats do a difficult job well.

Marc Holzer and Kathe Callahan compile evidence that creativity, productivity and

excellence are not strangers to government programmes. The public sector's innovative

problem-solving should be exploited in the attack of similarly complicated problems as

they emerge in our society.