A survey of 18 college textbooks published between 1980 and 1991 showed that there are significant shortcomings in how public administration is presented. Many authors rely on narrow perspectives and popular myths and fail to cite many of the field's leading contributors or consider the critical issues facing the public service profession.…

Intended for academics interested in small town research with an applied focus, this paper argues that high quality research aimed at data base development must occur before academics can work with practitioners in any policy forum. The paper begins by documenting the lack of research on small and rural governments and the need for a sound data…