David M. Walker

This book provides a fresh look at the process by which governments hold themselves accountable to their citizens for performance. Unlike the plethora of other books in the field, it examines all aspects of the Performance Management and Budgeting issue, not only from the federal, state, and local perspectives, but also internationally in both developing and developed countries.Covering both conceptual and theoretical frameworks in performance management and budget, the book analyzes the effectiveness of different approaches. Featuring insights from a group of distinguished contributors, it ties current performance management approaches into the century-old literature on public sector reform and management, and presents arguments for and against performance management as well as recommendations on how to improve the enterprise.

Examining the links between society, space, and place, this unique text introduces students to the ecological and cultural richness of Mexico and the diversity, tenacity, and resilience of its people. David M. Walker presents compelling ethnographic case studies of Mexico City's historic center and the adjacent Tepito neighborhood; life in the border city of Tijuana; and urban Mexican garbage networks. Cases also explore Afromexican identity in the Costa Chica of Guerrero and Oaxaca, as well as the Indigeneous Zoque people's stewardship of the remote Chimalapas region. Readers are immersed in the stories of real individuals and their livelihood strategies; natural and built environments; values and faith practices; leisure activities; foodways; involvements in local to global cultural, political, and economic processes; and more. Instructive features include topical vignettes, discussion questions, and suggested readings and online resources related to each case.

Examining the links between society, space, and place, this unique text introduces students to the ecological and cultural richness of Mexico and the diversity, tenacity, and resilience of its people. David M. Walker presents compelling ethnographic case studies of Mexico City's historic center and the adjacent Tepito neighborhood; life in the border city of Tijuana; and urban Mexican garbage networks. Cases also explore Afromexican identity in the Costa Chica of Guerrero and Oaxaca, as well as the Indigeneous Zoque people's stewardship of the remote Chimalapas region. Readers are immersed in the stories of real individuals and their livelihood strategies; natural and built environments; values and faith practices; leisure activities; foodways; involvements in local to global cultural, political, and economic processes; and more. Instructive features include topical vignettes, discussion questions, and suggested readings and online resources related to each case.

In The Greatest Ponzi Scheme on Earth, economist Dan Mitchell and entrepreneur Les Rubin give an in-depth look at how the US is headed toward a fiscal collapse if we do not course-correct and get government spending under control. Is the United States government running a Ponzi scheme? We have a massive federal debt because there is too much spending in Washington. Rather than try to solve our fiscal problems, however, politicians think the answer is to borrow more money. Sounds like a Ponzi scheme to us. In The Greatest Ponzi Scheme on Earth, economist Dan Mitchell and entrepreneur Les Rubin make the case that we, the American public, are being swindled by a federal government whose never-ending, out-of-control cycle of wasteful spending is putting our economic stability in grave peril. For the sake of our children's children and the future of our country, it is time for us to pull in the reins and end the spend. What would happen if the world's greatest economic powerhouse went bankrupt? Through real-world examples from home and abroad, Mitchell and Rubin take us on a crash course in economics, history, fiscal reality, and (most importantly) tried-and-true solutions. How do we fix Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid? What kind of tax burden can the economy bear and still thrive? And what can I do about it? These questions should be on the mind of every American--and they are the beating heart of this book. Learn economics, get mad, and vote for fiscal responsibility. If you're looking for a place to start, look no further. The important thing is that you start now. Your children's children depend on it.

This title was first published in 2001. The book aims to give a clear and accessible account of Marx’s method and an assessment of its scientific validity and relevance to contemporary social science; The key methodological themes of Marx’s work and their development are shown with particular attention paid to the elements of dialectics and materialism; Four models of science are outlined-positivism; critical rationalism; scientific conventionalism; scientific realism - and the arguments and evidence both for and against Marx’s method corresponding to any of them examined. The conclusion arrived at is that Marx’s method is a good example of social scientific practice according to the scientific realist model and that it has a positive contribution to make to social science today.realism.

This title was first published in 2001. The book aims to give a clear and accessible account of Marx’s method and an assessment of its scientific validity and relevance to contemporary social science; The key methodological themes of Marx’s work and their development are shown with particular attention paid to the elements of dialectics and materialism; Four models of science are outlined-positivism; critical rationalism; scientific conventionalism; scientific realism - and the arguments and evidence both for and against Marx’s method corresponding to any of them examined. The conclusion arrived at is that Marx’s method is a good example of social scientific practice according to the scientific realist model and that it has a positive contribution to make to social science today.realism.

He's one of America's most capable, canny, candid, and independent financial experts. Now David M. Walker sounds a call to action. Comeback America is a tough-minded, innovative, inspiring guide to help us avoid the approaching economic abyss and put the country back on track again. As comptroller general of the United States and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)--"the nation's top auditor"--Walker warned Congress and the administration as the federal surplus became a giant deficit under George W. Bush. As president and CEO of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, he now works full-time to raise public awareness regarding mounting debt burdens being imposed on future generations. Comeback America is his crucial manifesto, a way for President Obama to end out-of-control government spending and reform our tax, retirement, health care, defense, and other systems--before it's too late. Walker believes that by 2030, absent significant reforms to current government programs and policies, federal taxes could double from current levels, meaning less money and poorer education for kids--which will hurt families along with our nation's economic strength and position in the world. If our foreign creditors--such as China--decide to buy fewer of our Treasury bonds, interest rates will rise and cars and homes will become less affordable. But it doesn't have to be that way. Comeback America shows how we can return to our founding principles of fiscal responsibility and stewardship for future generations. The book includes bold ideas to control spending, save Social Security, dramatically alter Medicare, and simplify the tax code--all taking into account the Obama Administration's current efforts, which receive never-before-published assessments both complimentary and critical. Nonpartisan, nonideological, and filled with a love of the country its esteemed author has spent his life serving, Comeback America is a book for anyone interested in America's economic future--in other words, a book everyone should read.

This book provides a fresh look at the process by which governments hold themselves accountable to their citizens for performance. Unlike the plethora of other books in the field, it examines all aspects of the Performance Management and Budgeting issue, not only from the federal, state, and local perspectives, but also internationally in both developing and developed countries.Covering both conceptual and theoretical frameworks in performance management and budget, the book analyzes the effectiveness of different approaches. Featuring insights from a group of distinguished contributors, it ties current performance management approaches into the century-old literature on public sector reform and management, and presents arguments for and against performance management as well as recommendations on how to improve the enterprise.

Business has long struggled with the notion of "human capital," but do companies really know the value of their people? All too frequently, companies lay off thousands of workers to boost share price while, at the same time, their annual reports promise that "people are our greatest asset " Now, for the first time, human capital experts Brian Friedman, James Hatch, and David M. Walker show how companies can deliver on this promise. They reveal how Arthur Andersen's breakthrough five-stage framework, "Human Capital Appraisal," enables managers to measure, manage, and leverage their companies' investment in people. The authors describe specifically how managers can evaluate the current effectiveness of a firm's human capital strategies and the efficiency of its current Human Resources programs. They explain how to measure the amount of time and money management spends to recruit, develop, and manage human resources. Then they focus on how a firm can assess the return on this investment, minimize risk, and leverage the value of its human capital resources. Finally, the authors demonstrate how such leading companies as Colgate Palmolive, The Chicago Tribune, Mobil Oil, The Body Shop, Holy Cross Hospital, Hyatt Hotels, IBM, and British Petroleum are realizing the value of their people through human capital programs. This unique, proven, and proprietary methodology makes this invaluable book required reading for every chief executive, human resources director, and line manager.