Katie ([info]kitkatlj) wrote,
@ 2007-04-04 10:29:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Economic External Benefits

I just introduced a conservative coworker ("we need K-12 education to be privatized!") to the economic theory that private markets don't work as well as collective sponsorship of goods in situations where there is very, very little control over who gets the benefits of the good (no matter who paid for the good).

"Wow. That's very interesting. I'd never heard of that before."

My jaw just about dropped to the floor that he could be so opinionated on privatization without anyone having ever mentioned external benefits, but hey...it was kind of fun to get to be the one. :-)


I hope it sticks.


(Read 10 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]code65536
2007-04-06 06:26 am UTC (link)
I think you bring up a valid point, and I think there needs to be a clearer and more careful distinction when we talk about education's effects and which of them can be classified as being public goods.

I had a really long thing that I was going to write, but it became too long and wouldn't fit in an LJ comment, so I dumped it here instead:
http://www.kailiu.com/public/2007-04-06_4615e56b.xhtml

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)

[info]kitkatlj
2007-04-06 11:41 am UTC (link)
Right, right--though I wasn't clearn enough. See http://kitkatlj.livejournal.com/379254.html?thread=949878#t949878

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read 10 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…