Public Choice and the Economic Analysis of Anarchy: A Survey

Benjamin Powell () and Edward Peter Stringham ()
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Benjamin Powell: Suffolk University, Department of Economics

No 2008-7, Working Papers from Suffolk University, Department of Economics

Abstract: Public choice economists began studying the economics of anarchy in the 1970s. Since then, the amount of research on anarchy has burgeoned. This article surveys the important public choice contributions to the economics of anarchy. Following the lead of the early public choice economists, many current economists are researching and analyzing how individuals interact without government. From their non-public-interested explanations of the creation of government law enforcement to their historical studies of attempts to internalize externalities under anarchy, public choice scholars are arriving at a more realistic perspective on government and how people interact when government law enforcement is lacking. Although the economics of politics often receives more attention, the economics of anarchy is an important area of research in public choice.

Keywords: Anarchism; Lawlessness; Order; Internalization of Externalities; Self-Governance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 H11 K42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-hpe, nep-law and nep-pbe
Date: 2008-08-19
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Related works:
Journal Article: Public choice and the economic analysis of anarchy: a survey (2009)
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Persistent link: http://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:suf:wpaper:2008-7

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