Public Goods and the Liberal Tradition;

    Rousseau, Smith, Mill, Rawls

What are Public Goods? 

Goods/services

They are free to everyone: Clean air, national defense, public parks.

 

Problem: Free Rider Issue

People benefit without contributing to society.

 

Result

Market under provides 

Risk to society

The Western Liberal Solution 

The State's Role:

Government steps in to provide and fund public goods (through taxation, laws, institutions. 

 

The Liberal Approach:

Balance individual freedom with collective responsibility; use political + economic systems to ensure fair access and sustainability. 

 

Comparing the Thinkers

Public goods are things that everyone relies on but no one can create alone. With the help of these four brilliant thinkers like Rouseau, Smith, Mill, and Rawls, we can see how each of their ideas shaped and balanced our public goods system today. 

Rousseau

  • Believed in the Social Contract, where people agree to work together for the common good. 
  • Public goods should be managed through the general will. 
  • Saw freedom as being able to live under the rules you create. 

Smith

  • Known for the invisible hand idea. 
  • Believes government must step in when individuals or markets can't help. 
  • Valued economic freedom, prosperity, etc. 

Mill

  • Famous for utilitarianism.
  • Believed in strong individual liberty, as long as people don't harm others. 
  • Thought public goods like education are needed in a successful society.

Rawls
  • Known for justice as fairness. 
  • Believed society should give everyone a fair chance and should be protected if vulnerable.
  • Public goods like education and healthcare are vital for equal opportunity. 

Summary: 

In the west, liberalism addresses the public goods problem by emphasizing individual rights, equality, and stable governance. These principles create the foundation for a prosperous society.

 

Works Cited: 

 

- Hoss, Lewis. "Liberalism and the Problem of Compassion in Rousseau, Smith, and Tocqueville." HuskieCommons, 2020. https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8206&context=allgraduate-thesesdissertations

 

Stein, Zach. "Public Good" CarbonCollective. 14 Dec. 2022. https://www.carboncollective.co/sustainable-investing/public-good

 

 

 

 

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