An Anthology Regarding Merit Goods: The Unfinished Ethical Revolution in Economic Theory - Hardcover

Eecke, Wilfried Van

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1557534284 ISBN 13: 9781557534286

Publisher: Purdue University Press, 2007

Synopsis

Merit Goods are those goods and services that the government feels that people will under-consume and which therefore ought to be subsidized or provided free at the point of use. The consumption of merit goods is thought to generate positive externality effects where the social benefit from consumption exceeds the private benefit. Examples of merit goods are health services, education, public libraries, and inoculations against certain diseases. Van Eecke has assembled a collection of articles and papers that covers the issue of merit goods from a variety of perspectives and has provided a single source for researchers and economist interested in the issue. The work begins with a thorough look at Musgrave's notion of merit goods. The subsequent sections expand the definition of merit goods and provide information on the application of merit goods theory in economic, philosophical, social, and religious terms. The reference also has an extensive bibliography.

About this title

About the Author

Since 1967, Wilfried Van Eecke has been Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University, teaching ethics and economics. He obtained his Ph.D. from University of Louvain, Belgium.

Edition details

• Publisher: Purdue University Press
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1557534284
• ISBN 13: 9781557534286
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 800