Public Policy and the Quality of Life: Market Incentives versus Government Planning / Edition 1

by Randall G. Holcombe

Overview

This volume argues that the virtues of the market system, private property, and freedom of exchange can be applied to enhance the quality of life. Although people recognize in the abstract that markets work better than government in allocating resources, government's presence in the economy increases as government intervenes to deal with different problems. This book shows how the market mechanism that has enhanced material well-being is better suited than government planning to improve the quality of life. After examining general principles guiding both market and government allocation of resources, the book then examines specific policy issues, including environmental protection, health care, regulation of product quality, and land use planning.

The book first examines the general principles that guide both market and government allocation of resources to show why market mechanisms work better than government planning to enhance the quality of life. Then specific policy issues are examined to provide examples of how market forces can be harnessed to improve the quality of life. Some of those issues are environmental protection, health care, the regulation of product quality, and land use planning.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780313293580
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/24/1995
Series:	Contributions in Economics and Economic History , #16
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

RANDALL G. HOLCOMBE is Professor of Economics at Florida State University. He is also chairman of the Research Advisory Council of the James Madison Institute for Public Policy Studies, a think tank that specializes in issues facing state governments. He is the author of six books, including most recently, Economic Models and Methodology (Greenwood, 1989) and The Economic Foundations of Government (1994).

Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
Planning versus Markets
Protecting Future Resources
Protecting the Environment
Growth Management and Land Use
Housing and Homelessness
The Regulation of Quality Standards
Health Care
Health Insurance and Public Health
The Drug Problem
Responsibility: Public and Private
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Joins the prevailing post-Cold-War chorus by arguing that the free market not only produces goods and services but also enhances the quality of life, and that government can only interfere. Rings the changes on resources, the environment, land use, homelessness, health care, the drug problem, and other realms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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