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Uncertainty in the Theory of Public Finance

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  • Agnar Sandmo

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH), 5045 Bergen, Norway)

Abstract

This paper discusses the role that the economics of uncertainty has played in the theory of public finance. From being mostly concerned with its choice-theoretic foundations in the 1950s and 1960s, the theory of expected utility maximisation and risk averse behaviour has contributed decisively to the development of several areas of the theory of public finance. Three of these have been chosen here to illustrate the general point: The theory of taxation and risk taking with focus on portfolio choice, the role of uncertainty in public expenditure analysis (emphasising the effect of public goods provision on private risk taking) and the theory of tax evasion and compliance.

Suggested Citation

  • Agnar Sandmo, 2010. "Uncertainty in the Theory of Public Finance," The Geneva Risk and Insurance Review, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics (The Geneva Association), vol. 35(1), pages 1-18, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:genrir:v:35:y:2010:i:1:p:1-18
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guenter Franke & Harris Schlesinger & Richard C. Stapleton, 2013. "Risk-Taking-Neutral Background Risk," CESifo Working Paper Series 4070, CESifo.

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