The Public Critique of Welfare Economics: An Exploration

Timothy Besley and Stephen Coate

No 7083, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: The welfare economic method for analyzing the case for government intervention is often criticized for ignoring the political determination of policies. While many economists accept the thrust of this critique, exactly when and how political determination interferes with a welfare economic analysis is not well understood. This paper explores the logic of the critique in a specific context, demonstrating how political determination of policy affects the case for government intervention. We show that one form of intervention is likely to have an impact on others through the political process. These spillover effects may even provide a justification for interventions that the welfare economic approach would reject.

JEL-codes: D60 H11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1999-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr, nep-cdm, nep-env, nep-mic, nep-pbe, nep-pke, nep-pol and nep-pub
Note: PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published as Besley, Timothy & Coate, Stephen, 2003. " On the Public Choice Critique of Welfare Economics," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 114(3-4), pages 253-73, March.

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