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Author/Editor:
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Warner, Andrew
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Publication Date:
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February 28, 2013
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Electronic Access:
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Free Full text
(PDF file size is 843KB).
Use the free
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Disclaimer: This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF.
The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate
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Summary:
Welfare economics, scope and performance of government, externalities, public goods, cost-benefit analysis, subsidies economize on spending without losing effectiveness by modifying the conceptual framework guiding state expenditures. The familiar framework says that state intervention is justified when the spending provides public goods or when the intervention addresses externalities, provided the social return is above a threshold. This paper argues that another consideration needs to be brought into the mix - whether, in spite of the externalities, the private sector has an incentive to undertake the activity. It is argued that these two considerations together define a more efficient framework under which to justify state intervention. According to this modified framework, even a benign state interested in social welfare would not in fact address every externality nor necessarily select expenditures with the highest social returns. These points are summarized in a graph which is then used to analyze policy rules, subsidies and effective interaction between the state and the private sector. It is hoped that this paper points to the kind of information that needs to be collected and acted upon so that states may achieve their goals more effectively.
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Order a print copy
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Series:
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Working Paper No. 13/58
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Subject(s):
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Public investment | Private sector | Government expenditures | Subsidies
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English
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Publication Date:
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February 28, 2013
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ISBN/ISSN:
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9781475579147/2227-8885
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Format:
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Paper
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Stock No:
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WPIEA2013058
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Pages:
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22
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Price:
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US$18.00 )
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Please address any questions about this title to
publications@imf.org
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