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Public goods and public bads

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  • Wolfgang Buchholz
  • Richard Cornes
  • Dirk Rübbelke

Abstract

In many empirically relevant situations agents in different groups are affected by the provision of a public characteristic in divergent ways. Whereas for one group it represents a public good, it is a public bad for another group. Applying Cornes and Hartley's aggregative game approach, we analyze a general model in which such contentious public characteristics are present and are provided cooperatively. In particular, we establish neutrality results with respect to redistribution and growth of income, infer the effects of preference changes and coalition formation, and present a technology paradox. Finally, we compare the outcome of voluntary provision of the contentious public characteristic with the Pareto‐optimal solution, highlighting a potential conflict between equity and efficiency in this case.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Buchholz & Richard Cornes & Dirk Rübbelke, 2018. "Public goods and public bads," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 20(4), pages 525-540, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:jpbect:v:20:y:2018:i:4:p:525-540
    DOI: 10.1111/jpet.12298
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wolfgang Buchholz & Kai Konrad, 1994. "Global environmental problems and the strategic choice of technology," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 299-321, October.
    2. Ihori, Toshihiro, 1996. "International public goods and contribution productivity differentials," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(1), pages 139-154, July.
    3. Cornes,Richard & Sandler,Todd, 1996. "The Theory of Externalities, Public Goods, and Club Goods," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521477185.
    4. Buchholz, Wolfgang & Konrad, Kai A., 1995. "Strategic transfers and private provision of public goods," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(3), pages 489-505, July.
    5. Wolfgang Buchholz & Dirk Rübbelke (ed.), 2017. "The Theory of Externalities and Public Goods," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-319-49442-5, September.
    6. Warr, Peter G., 1983. "The private provision of a public good is independent of the distribution of income," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 13(2-3), pages 207-211.
    7. Richard Cornes & Roger Hartley, 2007. "Aggregative Public Good Games," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 9(2), pages 201-219, April.
    8. Keisuke Hattori, 2015. "Within-group cooperation and between-group externalities in the provision of public goods," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 22(2), pages 252-273, April.
    9. Bergstrom, Theodore & Blume, Lawrence & Varian, Hal, 1986. "On the private provision of public goods," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 25-49, February.
    10. Keisuke Hattori, 2005. "Is Technological Progress Pareto-Improving for a World with Global Public Goods?," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 84(2), pages 135-156, March.
    11. Andreoni, James, 1988. "Privately provided public goods in a large economy: The limits of altruism," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 57-73, February.
    12. Richard Cornes & Dirk Rübbelke, 2012. "On the Private Provision of Contentious Public Characteristics," CESifo Working Paper Series 3881, CESifo.
    13. Toshihiro Ihori, 2000. "Defense Expenditures and Allied Cooperation," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 44(6), pages 854-867, December.
    14. Toshihiro Ihori, 2000. "Defense Expenditures and Allied Cooperation," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-68, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edward Cartwright & Anna Stepanova & Lian Xue, 2019. "Impulse balance and framing effects in threshold public good games," Journal of Public Economic Theory, Association for Public Economic Theory, vol. 21(5), pages 903-922, October.
    2. Bakshi, Dripto & Dasgupta, Indraneel, 2022. "Can extremism reduce conflict?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    3. Dripto Bakshi & Indraneel Dasgupta, 2021. "A Subscription vs. Appropriation Framework for Natural Resource Conflicts," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Anil Markandya & Dirk Rübbelke (ed.), CLIMATE AND DEVELOPMENT, chapter 9, pages 257-307, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Bedřich Moldan, 2022. "Vládnutí globálním společným statkům v éře antropocénu [Governance of Global Common Goods in the Era of Anthropocene]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(4), pages 500-526.
    5. Todd Sandler, 2018. "Collective action and geoengineering," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 105-125, March.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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