August, 2007

Privatization versus Contracting Out

by Bruce L. Benson

August 19th, 2007

It seems odd to be debating Randy in this way since, as he noted, his office is just one floor below mine. However, it is Saturday and we actually live a couple of miles from each other, making it costly to talk face-to-face. Furthermore, when we do talk face to face, I apparently [...]

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The Road to Anarchy

by Randall G. Holcombe

August 19th, 2007

Pete says if he could do it today, he’d completely eliminate government in the United States, and that we’d be better off stateless than we are today. Then, in answer to how we get there from here he talks about shrinking the size of government, presumably continuing until it shrinks all the way to [...]

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Anarchy as a Policy Goal

by Randall G. Holcombe

August 18th, 2007

Bruce supports the academic study of anarchy by saying, “By knowing where you would like to end up, you are likely to be able to make better marginal decisions along the road, even if the destination is never reached.” Then he presents a policy example that, as I see it, does not support that [...]

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Anarchy Q & A

by Peter T. Leeson

August 18th, 2007

Randy poses a few interesting questions for me, as does Rodrik in his last remarks. I’ll do my best to answer them:
Q: Pete, do you think that if Somalia remains in its stateless condition that it will emerge from poverty to prosperity?
A: I think that the greatest sources of instability and retrogression Somalia has [...]

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