A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy

An overarching liberal political economy of behavioural public policy, offering a radical departure from existing paternalistic frameworks.

Adam Oliver (Author)

9781009282550, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 23 February 2023

250 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.2 cm, 0.36 kg

'Adam Oliver's newest book, the coda to his trilogy, is essential reading for everyone interested in the political economy of behavioural public policy. Though rooted in classical liberalism, it articulates a coherent argument for limited government regulation to curb abuses of autonomy by those who would selfishly impose behaviourally informed harms on others, rather than to 'correct' behaviorally influenced choices. The book rewards readers with Oliver's insightful and provocative perspective.' B. Douglas Bernheim, Stanford University

Behavioural public policy has thus far been dominated by approaches that are based on the premise that it is entirely legitimate for policymakers to design policies that nudge or influence people to avoid desires that may not be in their own self- interest. This book argues, instead, for a liberal political economy that radically departs from these paternalistic frameworks. Oliver argues for a framework whereby those who impose no substantive harms on others ought to be free of manipulative or coercive interference. On this view, BPP does not seek to “correct” an individual's conception of the desired life. This book is the third in a trilogy of books by Adam Oliver on the origins and conceptual foundations of BPP.

Introduction
1. Setting the scene
2. Other voices
3. A kingdom of ends
4. The view from nowhere
5. Nourishing flourishing
6. Anyone for desert?
7. Private matters
8. Public matters
9. The lives of others
10. Summing up
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Political economy [KCP], Behavioural economics [KCK]