The purpose of this book is to contribute to our understanding of the economics of public administration, in particular as concerns the design and operating conditions of public information systems. The study's findings can help in designing better such information systems, by pointing to proper ways of assessing alternative strategies for such design.

The theoretical insights gained on how to assess alternative design strategies can, in addition, be applied in all real life occasions when decisions on large and costly investments, for instance in medical research or design of large infrastructure projects, have to be taken without being certain about the exact nature of the outcome of such investments.