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THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE MINIMAL STATE
This major new book brings together four essays which rigorously defend classical liberal philosophy and present a convincing justification of the minimal state.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This major book brings together four essays which rigorously defend classical liberal philosophy and present a convincing justification of the minimal state.
In Before Resorting to Politics, the first essay, Anthony de Jasay rejects political solutions, seeks to de-politicise society and provides an original analysis of liberty, coercion, the role of chance and deserts in the distribution of resources. This is followed by Norman Barry’s Classical Liberalism in the Age of Post-Communism, a succinct but comprehensive reconstruction of classical liberal theory explaining its implications for law, constitutionalism and public policy.
Adam Smith into the Twenty-First Century by Edwin West shows how Smith’s liberalism – less ambivalent than that of J.S. Mill and his followers – continues to thrive and is enjoying a revival in the 1990s. In the final essay, Economic Policy in a Liberal Democracy, Richard E. Wagner offers an approach to welfare economics and economic policy appropriate for a classically liberal society.
The essays are co-ordinated by an introduction in which Charles K. Rowley explains why some notable classical liberal scholars have abandoned classical liberalism and presents a vigorous philosophical justification for the minimal state. Including essays by some of the most eminent scholars in the field, The Political Economy of the Minimal State makes an important and distinguished contribution to one of the most contentious issues in twentieth century political economy.
In Before Resorting to Politics, the first essay, Anthony de Jasay rejects political solutions, seeks to de-politicise society and provides an original analysis of liberty, coercion, the role of chance and deserts in the distribution of resources. This is followed by Norman Barry’s Classical Liberalism in the Age of Post-Communism, a succinct but comprehensive reconstruction of classical liberal theory explaining its implications for law, constitutionalism and public policy.
Adam Smith into the Twenty-First Century by Edwin West shows how Smith’s liberalism – less ambivalent than that of J.S. Mill and his followers – continues to thrive and is enjoying a revival in the 1990s. In the final essay, Economic Policy in a Liberal Democracy, Richard E. Wagner offers an approach to welfare economics and economic policy appropriate for a classically liberal society.
The essays are co-ordinated by an introduction in which Charles K. Rowley explains why some notable classical liberal scholars have abandoned classical liberalism and presents a vigorous philosophical justification for the minimal state. Including essays by some of the most eminent scholars in the field, The Political Economy of the Minimal State makes an important and distinguished contribution to one of the most contentious issues in twentieth century political economy.
Critical Acclaim
‘I recommend the book for all who search for a more complete understanding of the foundation stones that form classical liberalism. I predict that readers with the intellectual appetite will read this book and then place it in a special place on the shelf that contains favorite books by Buchanan, Hayek, Locke and Mises. That is where my copy now resides.’
– Bruce Yandle, Constitutional Political Economy
– Bruce Yandle, Constitutional Political Economy
Contents
Contents: Preface What is Living and What is Dead in Classical Liberalism 1. Before Restoring to Politics (A. de Jasay) 2. Classical Liberalism in the Age of Post-Connunism (N. Barry) 3. Adam Smith into the Twenty-First Century (E.G. West) 4. Economic Policy in a Liberal Democracy (R.E. Wagner)