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Heap-ing on Lippmann: liberalising behavioural public policy

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  • Oliver, Adam

Abstract

In several articles over the past decade, Shaun Hargreaves Heap has proposed a liberal, constitutional approach to behavioural public policy that conflicts with the paternalistic consequentialist approaches that have dominated the field to date. In recent years, I too have developed a behavioural public policy framework that sits within the classical liberal tradition. Recently, in commenting on my book, A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy, Hargreaves Heap identified similarities between my approach and that of the great 20th Century journalist and scholar, Walter Lippmann. In this article, I outline Lippmann’s arguments in his classic book, The Good Society, in some detail, and reach the conclusion that Hargreaves Heap was right in suggesting that I am a Lippmannite. Finally, given that Hargreaves Heap and I share a belief in liberalism, I summarise why I think he is a Lippmannite too.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver, Adam, 2024. "Heap-ing on Lippmann: liberalising behavioural public policy," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122374, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:122374
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/122374/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hertwig, Ralph, 2017. "When to consider boosting: some rules for policy-makers," Behavioural Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(2), pages 143-161, November.
    2. Oliver,Adam, 2023. "A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009282567, October.
    3. Peter J. Boettke & Rosolino Candela, 2019. "Liberalism in Crisis and the Promise of a Reconstructed Liberalism," Journal of Contextual Economics (JCE) – Schmollers Jahrbuch, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 139(2–4), pages 189-212.
    4. Oliver,Adam, 2019. "Reciprocity and the Art of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108480208, October.
    5. Robert Sugden, 2008. "Why incoherent preferences do not justify paternalism," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 19(3), pages 226-248, September.
    6. Shaun P. Hargreaves Heap, 2013. "What is the meaning of behavioural economics?," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 37(5), pages 985-1000.
    7. Oliver,Adam, 2019. "Reciprocity and the Art of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108727143, October.
    8. Oliver,Adam, 2023. "A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009282550, October.
    9. Burgin, Angus, 2012. "The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free Markets since the Depression," Economics Books, Harvard University Press, number 9780674058132, Spring.
    10. Hargreaves Heap, Shaun P., 2017. "Behavioural public policy: the constitutional approach," Behavioural Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 1(2), pages 252-265, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    behavioral economics; behavioral public policy; externalities; liberalism; regulation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • B20 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - General
    • B25 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought since 1925 - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian; Stockholm School
    • P00 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - General - - - General

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