----- Original Message ----- From: "Brad DeLong" <delong at econ.Berkeley.EDU>
> Yet another opportunity to learn that the "minimal" "night watchman"
> state--the state that consists only of a judge to say which contracts
> should be enforced, a constable to make sure people do what the judge
> says, and a night watchman to make sure nothing is stolen under cover
> of darkness--is actually a ferociously powerful and sophisticated
> political and social institution. Think of it: It has to:
>
> (1) Secure property rights--protect people who own stuff from casual
> theft and extortion.
> (2) Prevent violence.
> (3) Enforce contracts--and decide how to interpret contracts.
> (4) Control regional notables who would otherwise use their standing
> and resources to extort wealth (including, say, factory managers in
> early 1994 who promise to fire workers who won't hand their
> privatization vouchers over to him).
> (5) Most important, perhaps, control its own functionaries so that
> judgments are given and rights enforced according to the law, and are
> not bought and sold for bribes.
=================
(6) Collect taxes and draw up reasonable budgets consistent with democratic norms.
>
> These are very hard tasks to accomplish...
==============
Understatement of the decade so far...........
Ian