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Rules versus authorities

Author

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  • Marianne Johnson

    (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh)

Abstract

I present a brief history of modern public choice analysis as told through the lens of “rules versus authorities”, a dichotomy initially formulated by Henry C. Simons, University of Chicago professor to James M. Buchanan. Framing political decision-making as a choice between rules and authorities allows us to identify two necessary, motivating ideas for the emergence of public choice: (1) Governments are not monolithic, omniscient, social calculating machines, but are instead a collection of individuals with various and possibly competing interests. (2) Rather than empowering bureaucracies, economists and political scientists should devise rules that constrain government experts and protect democratic decision-making. Lurking behind both ideas is the legacy of Simons and his antipathy to expert management of the economy. In that antipathy, Simons makes an important contribution to the intellectual history of public choice and to Buchanan’s research program.

Suggested Citation

  • Marianne Johnson, 2018. "Rules versus authorities," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 219-228, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:175:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-018-0544-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-018-0544-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Henry C. Simons, 1944. "On Debt Policy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 52(4), pages 356-356.
    2. Steven G. Medema, 2011. "Public Choice and the Notion of Creative Communities," History of Political Economy, Duke University Press, vol. 43(1), pages 225-246, Spring.
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    5. Henry C. Simons, 1936. "Rules versus Authorities in Monetary Policy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 44(1), pages 1-1.
    6. Henry C. Simons, 1934. "Economic Reconstruction: The Columbia Report," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 42(6), pages 795-795.
    7. Roger D. Congleton, 2018. "Intellectual foundations of public choice, the forest from the trees," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 229-244, June.
    8. Henry C. Simons, 1942. "Hansen on Fiscal Policy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 50(2), pages 161-161.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roger D. Congleton, 2018. "Intellectual foundations of public choice, the forest from the trees," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 175(3), pages 229-244, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    James M. Buchanan; Henry C. Simons; Rules; Authorities; History of public choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B29 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Other
    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals

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