David Moss…offers a novel perspective on the extraordinary expansion of government. Where once it confined its remit to the bare essentials of defence, internal security and the enforcement of private-property rights, today’s leviathan spreads into every corner of national life, not just by taxing and spending but also by regulating. Much of the growth, Mr. Moss argues, has come from the state’s unique ability to reallocate risk. Government has expanded its reach because it is the ultimate risk manager… [An] enlightening book.