Before you give the government new powers, try the Munger Test: cross out "government" and insert the name of the politician you trust least. Then see if you still like the idea. In his 52nd EconTalk appearance, Mike Munger talks with host Russ Roberts about public choice, politics without romance, and why treating government like a loving family (or your family like a business), ends badly. Along the way, they talk about why Edmund Burke's famous defense of legislators voting their conscience cost him his seat in Parliament, how a group lunch explains politics, and why voters rationally know so little.
Listen to the episode here.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Michael Munger is a professor of political science, economics, and public policy and director of the PPE Certificate Program. His primary research focus is on the functioning of markets, regulation, and government institutions. He has taught at Dartmouth College, the University of Texas, and the University of North Carolina, as well as worked as a staff economist at the Federal Trade Commission during the Reagan Administration. His recent books include Choosing in Groups (2015, Cambridge U Press) and Tomorrow 3.0 (2018, Cambridge U Press), and The Sharing Economy (2021, Institute of Economic Affairs).
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