Summers dictates

[Brad DeLong]

>----- 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.

I *said* "the 'minimal' 'night watchman' state"; not "the good state"...


:-)


>
>>
>>  These are very hard tasks to accomplish...
>
>==============
>
>Understatement of the decade so far...........
>
>Ian

Which is why I am losing tolerance for libertarians--those who think 
that their life in the "state of nature" would be pleasant, 
civilized, and long...

Brad DeLong