Public Policy and the Public Interest

By Lok Sang Ho

Traditionally, economists have referred to either the Hicksian criterion or the Kaldorian criterion as the yardstick to whether a policy is welfare enhancing. The author argues for an alternative, ex ante welfare increase criterion that is based on how people would assess a policy if they were completely impartial and totally ignored their personal interests. It applies the principles to key policy concerns such as health policy, tort law reform, education and cultural policy, and pension reform.

The book is written in clear prose intelligible to students and non-specialists, and is supplemented with diagrams, tables, and charts. It strives to bring in alternative perspectives, yet nevertheless not stops short of offering a clean analysis that offers a clear direction of wherein an optimal policy lies.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415664667
• ISBN13: 9780415664660
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 286 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.2"