Introduction

In Monty Python, a British comedy show, an ancient Briton asked, ‘what did the Romans ever do for us’, only to eventually receive a long list including straight roads, aqueducts, and villas? Most people have had a similar conversation about public services: ‘I don’t use any of their services’, only to be reminded about roads, sewers, tap water, traffic signals, and then perhaps schools and social services. This book is for people who want to better understand how local public services improve the value provided for citizens.