Public Choice II: A Revised Edition of Public Choice (Cambridge Surveys of Economic Literature) [Hardcover]

Dennis C. Mueller (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cambridge Surveys of Economic Literature | Publication Date: September 29, 1989

This book discusses the main topics of the public-social choice literature of the past 40 years. Separate chapters discuss various applied public choice questions such as rent seeking, the growth of government, the rise and decline of nations, political business cycles, why people vote, and the nature and extent of redistribution. The book details normative issues in public choice, including Bergson-Samuelson social welfare functions, the Arrow and Sen impossibility theorems, the work of John Rawls, John Harsanyi, James Buchanan, and Gordon Tullock. This book is a major revision of Public Choice, containing eleven new chapters in addition to substantial revision and expansion. Separate sections containing proofs of the most important theorems have been added. It is appropriate for both graduate and undergraduate courses in public choice economics and political theory, or as a supplement in courses dealing with related questions such as public finance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

..".this Handbook is likely to be the standard reference on public choice for some years. All in all, the Handbook is a very good summary of the current state of public choice analysis." William A. Niskanen, Public Choice

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 2 edition (September 29, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521370833
• ISBN-13: 978-0521370837
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,531,697 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good introductory primer for political economy, August 11, 2000

By 

J. Michael Showalter (Nashville, TN United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Public Choice II: A Revised Edition of Public Choice (Cambridge Surveys of Economic Literature) (Paperback)

This is a good introductory book for political economy. This may or may not be as good as the same author's "Perspectives on Public Choice" but it does cover most issue areas in the Public Choice subdiscipline in the course of its sections. I think that this was the main coursebook for my first political economy class when I was in college: definitely, if you're going to buy one book on public choice, buy the other one (hopefully buy them both!!!) Then get some Mancur Olson too.... he's a lot of fun!

4.0 out of 5 stars Highlights important issues, August 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Public Choice II: A Revised Edition of Public Choice (Cambridge Surveys of Economic Literature) (Paperback)

I used this book quite heavily for my Masters degree in philosophy and public policy. Mueller's book is well cited in a wide variety of literature which is a testament to its importance.

He gives a basic albeit technical overview of many policy issues, and he relies heavily on mathematical contructions. Of most interest to me as a philosopher are his later chapters on justice and rights, where he discusses very intelligently the thoughts of John Rawls, Harsanyi, Nozick, Sen, etc.