The Online Library of Liberty

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• Preface to the Third Edition
• From Preface to the Second Edition
• From Preface to the First Edition
• General Introduction
• Chapter I
• Chapter Ii
• Book I: Public Expenditure
• Chapter I: State Economy. General Considerations
• Chapter II: The Cost of Defence
• Chapter III: Justice and Security
• Chapter IV: Administrative Supervision. Poor-relief
• Chapter V: Education. Religion
• Chapter VI: Expenditure On Industry and Commerce. Constitutional and Diplomatic Expenditure
• Chapter VII: Central and Local Expenditure
• Chapter VIII: Some General Questions of Expenditure
• Appendix.: On the Classification and Guiding Maxims of Public Expenditure.
• Book II: Public Revenue the Economic Or Quasi-private Receipts
• Chapter I: The Forms and Classification of Public Revenue
• Chapter II: The State Domain. Lands and Forests
• Chapter III: The Industrial Domain
• Chapter IV: The State As Capitalist. Administrative Revenue
• Chapter V: State Property.—general Considerations On Quasi-private Revenue
• Book III: Public Revenue (continued) the Principles of Taxation
• Chapter I: Definition and Classification of Taxation
• Chapter II: The General Features of Taxation
• Chapter III: The Distribution of Taxation
• Chapter IV: The Tax System: Its Forms
• Chapter V: The Shifting and Incidence of Taxation1
• Chapter VI: The Principles of Local Taxation
• Chapter VII: The Canons of Taxation
• Book IV: Public Revenue—concluded - the Several Kinds of Taxes
• Chapter I: Taxes On Land
• Chapter II: Taxes On Capital and Business
• Chapter III: Personal and Wages Taxes
• Chapter IV: Taxes On Property and Income
• Chapter V: Taxes On Consumption: Their Classification: Direct Consumption Taxes
• Chapter VI: Internal Taxes On Commodities
• Chapter VII: Customs Duties
• Chapter VIII: Taxes On Communications and Acts
• Chapter IX: Taxes On Successions1
• Book V: The Relation of Expenditure and Receipts
• Chapter I: Introductory—state Treasures
• Chapter II: Public Indebtedness, Its Modern Development
• Chapter III: The History of the English Debt
• Chapter IV: History of the French Debt, Indebtedness In Other Countries
• Chapter V: The Theory of Public Credit and Public Debts
• Chapter VI: The Forms of Public Debts
• Chapter VII: The Redemption and Conversion of Debt
• Chapter VIII: Local Indebtedness
• Book VI: Financial Administration and Control
• Chapter I: Introductory—historical Development
• Chapter II: The Budget—its Preparation—the Collection of Revenue
• Chapter III: The Vote of the Budget—control and Audit
• Chapter IV: Administration and Control In Local Finance

FROM PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

Though no substantial change has been made in any point of doctrine or arrangement, the facts and figures have been thoroughly revised and brought up to date. Many important financial measures have been adopted during the last three years, and have required some notice. It is indeed, neither possible nor desirable, in a work primarily devoted to the statement of principles, to include all the transitory phases of legislative action; but the alterations recently carried out in the United Kingdom and Prussia are instructive examples of the direction of modern financial policy…. They have accordingly been described in their proper connection, and in consequence of the scientific and practical interest of the subject a chapter dealing with “death duties” has been added. A more theoretical addition is the new chapter on the “maxims of taxation,” which replaces the historical appendix in the first edition.

It is satisfactory to note that there has been a distinct revival of interest in respect to financial questions, as shown by the recent contributions to the literature of the subject, the more important of which have been duly referred to. It may without rashness be conjectured that the chief points of controversy in the immediate future will refer to local rather than to imperial finance, a statement which is applicable to France and the United States as well as our own country. The due adjustment of the two complementary systems of central and local finance will call for the efforts of skilled statesmanship guided by sound principles.

The criticisms and suggestions made by numerous reviewers and correspondents have been carefully considered, and, I hope, properly used. Among published criticisms I feel specially indebted to those by Professors Cohn, Seligman, and Farnam. Of those made privately I would particularly mention the valuable remarks by Professor Foxwell, Mr. E. Cannan, and Mr. C. S. Devas.

C. F. BASTABLE.