What Does Economics Have to Say about Civics?
- 1 hour ago
- 1 min read
EconBuff Podcast #58 with Rex Pjesky
Dr. Rex Pjesky talks with me about what economics has to say about civics. Dr. Pjesky begins by defining what economics is and how he views it. Dr. Pjesky then defines civics and briefly explores the academic landscape of research on civics from various disciplines. We explore what economics can have to say about civics given these two definitions. Dr. Pjesky argues that economists are well equipped to approach the issues in civics because economics is a science concerned with coordination between strangers and the fundamental issue in civics is coordinating strangers. Dr. Pjesky introduces the ideas of Nobel Laureate James Buchanan and his pioneering work on public choice and how economics applies to civics. We discuss Buchanan and Gordon Tullock’s work in some detail. Dr. Pjesky outlines how this branch of economics applies to elected officials and to regulators, focusing in particular on corruption and regulatory capture. Finally, we consider whether democracy can survive if political actors are self motivated as Dr. Pjesky argues and we conclude with Dr. Pjesky’s view on cynicism in civics.
SE7: E2
FOLLOW ME HERE:
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0434c041-ec75-443e-8002-68cfcdd66db6/econ-buff-podcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/econ.buff.1
Substack: https://econbuffpodcast.substack.com/
My website: https://econbuffpodcast.wixsite.com/mysite
Thumbnail photo credit: ChatGPT AI Image Generation
Music Credit: https://www.youtube.com/@UCqXsGBa-OplAomMuPqmmPKg
Comments