PUBLIC SECTOR: A fancy-schmancy term for government, which for the United States includes all three levels--federal, state, and local. The term public sector is most useful as a contrast to the term private sector, which includes households and businesses.

     See also | government | government sector | private sector | household sector | business sector | three questions of allocation | ownership and control | liberal | conservative | government functions | market failure | fifth rule of imperfection | public choice | normative economics | economic policies | business cycle | public choice |