2002 | OriginalPaper | Chapter
Government and Business
Governments have played a pervasive role in the economies of many nations. Such roles have periodically included that of facilitator (economic development and stabilisation, role model, information conduit), arbitrator (competition, regulation, corporations law, property rights) and participant (buyer and seller of goods and services). In a sporting analogy we can say that the state has been coach, referee and player; sometimes all three!