Public administrations at all levels, especially at the municipal level, are much better in their services and procedures than their reputation suggests. Difficulties often arise from unclear guidelines or a lack of understanding from politics or management. This book provides a problem-oriented introduction to the political and societal function of public administrations and offers insights into the current state of practical and scientific developments as well as the fundamental discussion: What are public administrations necessary for? What kind of public administration do we need, and what can we afford? It provides students and administrative practitioners with an excellent overview of the organization and performance of public administrations.