<p><strong>'Jan-Erik Lane has once again produced a timely and provocative book - this time upon the distinctive challenges of public management in the twenty first century. it is sure to become a classic text for researchers and students in the field alike.'</strong> - <em>Stephen P Osborne, Professor of International Public Management, University of Edinburgh Business School, Scotland</em></p><p><strong>‘Jan-Erik Lane has yet again produced a fresh lens for viewing the public sector and how it operates. State management focuses on theories and models of public management and administration that provide distinctive means for delivering public services. He works systematically through the gamut of design options and issues in short, crisp chapters organized around a lucid and logical presentation of ideas. The book is strongly recommended for its ability to engage students and scholars of public management and administration’</strong> - <em>John Halligan, Professor, School of Business and Government, University of Canberra, Australia</em> </p><p><strong>‘A pioneer in the contemporary study of public management shows that state management is distinctly different from ‘running government like a business’. Lane points out the consequences for theory and research. He demonstrates the contemporary relevance of classical core questions of public administration by treating contemporary management of the public sector from his profound knowledge and broad overview of the field: from bureaucracy theory to the importance of multilevel governance, sustainability policy and the rule of law in modern public management. The result is an inspiring achievement. The book provides a great stepping stone for faculty and students to address the many wicked issues the management of contemporary government - in its many component parts - is facing from a theoretically grounded and research perspective.’ - </strong><em>Theo Toonen, Dean, Faculty of Technology, Policy, Management, Delft University of Technology and Professor of Institutional Public Administration, Delft and Leiden University</em></p>