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Study Guide to Man, Economy, and State with Power and Market

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158 <strong>Study</strong> <strong>Guide</strong> <strong>to</strong> <strong>Man</strong>, <strong>Economy</strong>, <strong>and</strong> <strong>State</strong> <strong>with</strong> <strong>Power</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Market</strong><br />

4. Utility Ex Post: Free <strong>Market</strong> <strong>and</strong> Government<br />

People always expect <strong>to</strong> benefit from voluntary exchanges,<br />

<strong>and</strong> in practice they usually will do so. In particular, inept businesses<br />

soon go bankrupt while entrepreneurs who make good<br />

forecasts earn profits. In contrast, in the government sec<strong>to</strong>r<br />

there are no mechanisms <strong>to</strong> minimize error. When a government<br />

policy fails in its stated objectives, the politicians do not<br />

necessarily suffer <strong>and</strong> the voters may not be sophisticated<br />

enough <strong>to</strong> perceive the true causes of the failure. (A good summary<br />

is at the bot<strong>to</strong>m of p. 891.)<br />

5. Triangular Intervention: Price Control<br />

A price control involves the use of force <strong>to</strong> alter the terms on<br />

which individuals exchange goods or services. When the government<br />

sets a maximum price (or price ceiling), it threatens<br />

force against anyone caught charging a price above a specific<br />

amount. Maximum prices lead <strong>to</strong> shortages, i.e., situations where<br />

quantity dem<strong>and</strong>ed exceeds quantity supplied. (A prime example<br />

is the shortage of apartments due <strong>to</strong> rent control.) When the<br />

government sets a minimum price (or price floor), it makes it<br />

illegal <strong>to</strong> pay below a certain price. Minimum prices lead <strong>to</strong> surpluses,<br />

i.e., situations where quantity supplied exceeds quantity<br />

dem<strong>and</strong>ed. (A prime example is the unemployment due <strong>to</strong> the<br />

minimum wage.)<br />

6. Triangular Intervention: Product Control<br />

Product control regulates the product itself, or the people<br />

involved in the exchange. (In contrast price control regulates<br />

only the terms of trade.)

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