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Political Ethics and Public Policy

In: The Economic Foundations of Government

Author

Listed:
  • Randall G. Holcombe

    (Florida State University)

Abstract

This chapter begins with the premise that societies have the ability to choose the characteristics of their governments. It is not an analysis of the public choice process, however, but a discussion about how individuals within a society would determine what governmental characteristics are desirable — that is, what characteristics they should want to choose. As a starting point, individuals will desire institutions that benefit them, and if social interaction were a zero-sum game, politics would simply amount to trying to balance the interests of some against the interests of others. But social interaction is not a zero-sum game, and productive institutional structures can generate benefits for everyone. The challenges are to identify productive institutional changes, and to identify ways to get them implemented.

Suggested Citation

  • Randall G. Holcombe, 1994. "Political Ethics and Public Policy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: The Economic Foundations of Government, chapter 12, pages 196-209, Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-13230-0_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-13230-0_12
    as

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