The book offers a glimpse into the innovative ideas of Gordon Tullock, a prominent figure in political economics. Professor Rowley presents minimal context, allowing Tullock's own eloquent insights to take center stage. This approach invites readers to engage directly with Tullock's original thoughts and contributions to the field, showcasing his significance as a thinker.
While income redistribution is one of the most important functions of modern governments, the world has changed greatly since this first edition of Economics of Income Redistribution was published in 1983. Pension systems and medical programs are in a state of crisis in many parts of the world and the general political mood is shifting away from income redistribution. Economics of Income Redistribution (2nd edition) brings this work up to date by discussing the economic and political aspects of income redistribution. It examines the classical moral objective of redistribution to assist the poor, as well as income transfer for pensions, education and intra-family gift giving.
Government 'servants' can most likely be assumed to be pursuing their own interests, just like those in the private sector, although, given the coercive power of the state, the effects can be far from benign. This text analyses the motives and activities of politicians, civil servants and voters.
A scientific study of the political and economic factors influencing democratic decision making
Editor Charles Rowley calls Gordon Tullock “an economist by nature rather than by training.” Tullock attended a one-semester course in economics for law students at the University of Chicago but is otherwise self-taught. Tullock’s background has enabled him to analyze economic problems with an open mind and to deploy his formidable intellect in a truly entrepreneurial manner. <b> <i>Virginia Political Economy</i> </b> is the inaugural volume in Liberty Fund’s <i>The Selected Works of Gordon Tullock.</i> The series consists of ten volumes of selections from the major monographs and scholarly papers published by Tullock between 1954 and 2002. The first volume contains a selection from Tullock’s published academic papers and essays designed to introduce the series and to offer a representative picture of his work to allow scholars to evaluate in depth the relevance and intellectual impact of his contributions. The volume begins with the only two pieces in the <i>Selected Works</i> that were not written by Tullock himself. The first is the brief assessment of Tullock’s contributions made by Mark Blaug in 1985 when explaining why he had included Tullock in his list of the one hundred great economists since John Maynard Keynes. The second is the short statement published in <i>American Economic Review</i> in September 1998, recognizing Tullock as a Distinguished Fellow of the American Economic Association. <b>Gordon Tullock</b> is Professor Emeritus of Law at George Mason University, where he was Distinguished Research Fellow in the Center for Study of Public Choice and University Professor of Law and Economics. He also taught at the University of South Carolina, the University of Virginia, Rice University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and the University of Arizona. In 1966 he founded the journal that became <i>Public Choice</i> and remained its editor until 1990. <b>Charles K. Rowley</b> was Duncan Black Professor of Economics at George Mason University and a Senior Fellow of the James M. Buchanan Center for Political Economy at George Mason University. He was also General Director of the Locke Institute.