Efficiency, Equality and Public Policy
With A Case for Higher Public Spending
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Palgrave Macmillan
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book provides compelling arguments for the exclusive concern with efficiency ('a dollar is a dollar') in all specific areas of public economic policy, leaving the objective of equality to be achieved through the general tax/transfer system. Public policies should ultimately maximize the sum of individual welfares which should be individual happiness rather than preferences. Relative-income and environmental disruption effects cause a bias in favour of private spending which is no longer conducive to happiness socially. Welfare can be increased more by higher public spending on research and environmental protection, including the perfection of the techniques of brain stimulation to increase happiness.
'Kwang Ng is the leading proponent of the use of cardinal, interpersonally comparable utilities in economics. In this book he both defends their use and illustrates their application. Ng's analysis is both lucid and provocative. A fascinating journey into applied welfare economics.' - Professor Dennis Mueller, former President of the Public Choice Society and the Industrial Organization Society, USA 'Yew-Kwang Ng has been one of the most original minds studying the foundations of economic policy analysis. His work has now been brought together in one place, where the interrelations of his ideas can be most fruitfully seen. His analyses bring together the philosophical foundations and the elements of positive economic analysis to clarify the rules by which good public decisions about the economy can be made. It will have ideas new to every reader.' - Kenneth J.Arrow, Professor of Economics, Stanford University
ISBN: 9780333671658
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 405g
189 pages