Escaping paternalism : rationality, behavioral economics, and public policy / Mario J. Rizzo, New York University, Glen Whitman, California State University, Northridge.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Rizzo, Mario J., author.

Whitman, Glen, author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in economics, choice, and society

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Economics--Psychological aspects.

Economics.

Paternalism--Economic aspects.

Paternalism.

Rational choice theory.

Physical Description:

xii, 496 pages ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2020.

Summary:

"The burgeoning field of behavioral economics has produced a new set of justifications for paternalism. This book challenges behavioral paternalism on multiple levels, from the abstract and conceptual to the pragmatic and applied. Behavioral paternalism relies on a needlessly restrictive definition of rational behavior. It neglects nonstandard preferences, experimentation, and self-discovery. It relies on behavioral research that is often incomplete and unreliable. It demands a level of knowledge from policymakers that they cannot reasonably obtain. It assumes a political process largely immune to the effects of ignorance, irrationality, and the influence of special interests and moralists. Overall, behavioral paternalism underestimates the capacity of people to solve their own problems, while overestimating the ability of experts and policymakers to design beneficial interventions. The authors argue instead for a more inclusive theory of rationality in economic policymaking"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Rizzo, Mario J. Escaping paternalism

ISBN:

9781107016941

1107016940

9781108760003

1108760007

OCLC:

1122724184