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Can a contractarian be a paternalist? The logic of James M. Buchanan’s system

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Listed:
  • Mario J. Rizzo

    (New York University)

  • Malte F. Dold

    (Pomona College)

Abstract

At various points in his work, James Buchanan mentions favorably the idea of private constitutional choice, that is, it can be rational for a present-biased individual to constrain her future behavior by self-imposed rules of personal conduct. Given that in a classical liberal world such self-constitutions would face no political or legal obstacle, we ask whether reasonable people would call on the state to assist them in the enforcement of their personal constitutions. In this paper, we provide several arguments for the incompatibility of Buchanan’s contractarianism with various forms of state paternalism.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario J. Rizzo & Malte F. Dold, 2020. "Can a contractarian be a paternalist? The logic of James M. Buchanan’s system," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 183(3), pages 495-507, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:183:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-020-00804-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-020-00804-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Buchanan,James M. & Congleton,Roger D., 2006. "Politics by Principle, Not Interest," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521031325.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Contractarianism; James Buchanan; Paternalism; Rules; Self-constitutions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B31 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought: Individuals - - - Individuals
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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