The Political Economy of Lighthouses: Some Further Considerations

Carnis Laurent ()
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Carnis Laurent: Paris-Est University, IFSTTAR-AME-DEST, Cité Descartes 14-20 Boulvevard Newton, Marne La Vallée 77447, France

Journal des Economistes et des Etudes Humaines, 2014, vol. 20, issue 2, 143-165

Abstract: Lighthouse and the Trinity House case have triggered extensive debate on the possibility of private production of public goods and, more especially, lighthouse services provision. This contribution sums up current academic debate about lighthouse provision. It shows that the English system of lighthouse services provision cannot be rigorously considered as an example of private provision. Some historical experiences have shown that private provision was possible, although governmental hindrances restrained a full-fledged market process provision. This contribution defends the interest of mobilizing a political economy perspective for an understanding of the different frameworks and institutional designs for providing such services. Some national cases illustrate and sustain the proposed political economy framework.

Keywords: lighthouse; public goods; institutional design; transaction costs; contractualism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D23 D61 D72 H42 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1515/jeeh-2014-0017

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