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L'importance relative des gouvernements : causes, conséquences, et organisations alternatives

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  • Claude Montmarquette

Abstract

In Canada as in Quebec, every second dollar is spent by the government. This is a considerable proportion of the total expenditure of an economy left to the decision of the political market. This proportion is one of the highest among the so-called capitalist countries. Faced with this situation, economists, among others, have tried to understand the origin of such a situation, and especially to identify the consequences of the omnipresence of the State on well-being, development and economic growth. In this paper, we examine four roles attributed to the state in our society: the production of goods and services; the reduction of income inequality; the stabilization of the economy; and finally the0501ntaining economic growth. Our reflection and studies lead us to conclude that the State essentially produces private goods collectively financed and that it has little impact on income inequality. In addition, we show that there is an incompatibility between the ability of governments to stabilize the economy and a high relative size of the state. Finally, a high relative size of the state appears to be detrimental to economic growth. In conclusion, we suggest a different organizational context that would allow for greater efficiency in the delivery of services currently provided by the State. Au Canada comme au Québec un dollar sur deux est dépensé par l'État. C'est une proportion considérable des dépenses totales d'une économie laissée à la décision du marché politique. Cette proportion est une des plus élevées parmi les pays dits capitalistes. Devant ce constat, les économistes, entre autres, ont essayé de comprendre l'origine d'une telle situation, et surtout de dégager les conséquences de l'omnipresence de l'État sur le bien-être, le développement et la croissance économique. Nous examinons dans ce cahier quatre rôles que l'on attribue à l'État dans notre société : la production de biens et de services ; la réduction des inégalites de revenus ; la stabilisation de l'économie ; et finalement le0501ntien de la croissance économique. Notre réflexion et nos études nous amènent à conclure que l'État produit essentiellement des biens privés collectivement finances et qu'il affecte peu l'inégalite des revenus. De plus, nous montrons qu'il existe une incompatibilité entre la capacité de stabilisation de l'économie par les gouvernements et une taille relative élevée de l'État. Enfin une taille relative élevée de l'État semble nuire à la croissance économique. En conclusion nous suggérons un contexte organisationnel différent qui permettrait une plus grande efficacité dans la fourniture des services aujourd'hui offerts par l'État.

Suggested Citation

  • Claude Montmarquette, 1994. "L'importance relative des gouvernements : causes, conséquences, et organisations alternatives," CIRANO Papers 94c-03, CIRANO.
    • Handle: RePEc:cir:circah:94c-03
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dudley, Leonard & Montmarquette, Claude, 1992. "Is Public Spending Determined by Voter Choice of Fiscal Capacity?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 74(3), pages 522-529, August.
    2. Dudley, Leonard & Montmarquette, Claude, 1984. "The Effects of Non-clearing Labor Markets on the Demand for Public Spending," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 22(2), pages 151-170, April.
    3. Maria J. Hanratty & Rebecca M. Blank, 1992. "Down and Out in North America: Recent Trends in Poverty Rates in the United States and Canada," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 107(1), pages 233-254.
    4. Howard R. Bowen, 1943. "The Interpretation of Voting in the Allocation of Economic Resources," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 58(1), pages 27-48.
    5. Leonard Dudley & Claude Montmarquette, 1981. "The demand for military expenditures: An international comparison," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 37(1), pages 5-31, January.
    6. Dougan, William R, 1991. "The Cost of Rent Seeking: Is GNP Negative?," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(3), pages 660-664, June.
    7. Dudley, L. & Montmarquette, C., 1993. "Government Size and Economic Convergence," Cahiers de recherche 9316, Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en économie quantitative, CIREQ.
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    Keywords

    Government expenditures; Dépenses gouvernementales;

    JEL classification:

    • H5 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies

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