Market Failure vs. Government Failure: LPP EP 41

9/14/2018

In this episode, I explore the following questions: What are claimed market failures? Do they exist? Can government intervention correct them? Is there such thing as government failure? It's important to ask these questions to determine whether or not market failure or government failure are the bigger problem in society. Much of this has do with the differences between Mainline Economics (my preference) and Mainstream Economics.

This enters controversial territory in economics and politics by discussing the myths of "market failure." Supposed market failures usually include problems with markets because of asymmetric information (occupational licensing and healthcare), monopolies (utilities and EpiPen), and externalities (pollutants) that can theoretically be corrected by government intervention.

However, I make the case that these issues in markets are generated by government intervention, not unhampered markets, and the introduction of government intrusion to attempt to correct these potential issues only expand government and make the problem worse.

Moreover, there are no free-market government solutions, which is why toxic pollutants should be dealt with by letting markets sufficiently price them or alternatively, though not recommended, by regulation. Policy solutions such as a carbon tax indirectly price externalities and the price will always be wrong because of the "knowledge problem" taught by economist Friedrich Hayek and the poor modeling that's done by so-called experts (see William Easterly's book The Tyranny of Experts). In general, the institutional structure of an economy should be supported by the government through upholding contracts, protecting people, and providing very few public goods.

Instead of resorting to government intervention to solve supposed market failures, we should first understand that the government is likely the problem and Let People Prosper by promoting institutions with strong private property rights and fewer barriers to entry and exit markets.

#LetPeopleProsper

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Vance Ginn, Ph.D.
Chief Economist
TPPF
#LetPeopleProsper

Dr. Ginn is a free-market, classical liberal economist with a passion for providing abundant opportunities for people to prosper, which includes promoting policy rules and removing government barriers.

He grew up in South Houston, Texas where he attended private school, public school and home school, was a hard rock drummer, and was a first generation college graduate from Texas Tech University.

Dr. Ginn's a recovering academic and a public policy nerd.

Follow me on Twitter: @vanceginn.