Randall G. Holcombe's Books

Political Capitalism

How Economic and Political Power Is Made and Maintained

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Political Capitalism

How Economic and Political Power Is Made and Maintained

By: Randall G. Holcombe

Problems associated with cronyism, corporatism, and policies that favor the elite over the masses have received increasing attention in recent years. Political Capitalism explains that what people often view as the result of corruption and unethical behavior are symptoms of a distinct system of political economy. The symptoms of political capitalism are often viewed as the result of government intervention in a market economy, or as attributes of a capitalist economy itself. Randall G. Holcombe combines well-established theories in economics and the social sciences to show that political capitalism is not a mixed economy, or government intervention in a market economy, or some intermediate step between capitalism and socialism. After developing the economic theory of political capitalism, Holcombe goes on to explain how changes in political ideology have facilitated the growth of political capitalism, and what can be done to redirect public policy back toward the public interest.

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Page Count

305

Publisher

Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1108596126

ISBN 13

9781108596121

Following Their Leaders

Political Preferences and Public Policy

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Following Their Leaders

Political Preferences and Public Policy

By: Randall G. Holcombe

The political preferences of citizens and voters are derived from those offered to them by the political elite.

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231

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Cambridge University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1009323164

ISBN 13

9781009323161

Advanced Introduction to Public Choice

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Advanced Introduction to Public Choice

By: Randall G. Holcombe

Using public choice economic methods, this Advanced Introduction presents a focused narrative about political decision-making based on the work that has defined the discipline. Each chapter ends with a Notes section to discuss the research on which the chapter is based, with an emphasis on the pioneering work that has shaped the development of public choice. Randall G. Holcombe emphasizes the theoretical foundations of public choice, with the idea that it offers a context within which empirical research can be understood. This book successfully explores the political decision-making process for readers and ensures that they understand how preferences of citizens are aggregated to produce public policies.

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169

Publisher

Edward Elgar Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1785362054

ISBN 13

9781785362057

Coordination, Cooperation, and Control

The Evolution of Economic and Political Power

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Coordination, Cooperation, and Control

The Evolution of Economic and Political Power

By: Randall G. Holcombe

There are two ways people coordinate their actions: through cooperation, exercised by economic power, and through control, exercised by political power. When economic and political power are held by the same people, the result is stagnation; when those who hold economic power are not the same people who hold political power, the result is progress. This book presents the ways in which economic power and political power can be separated, and how they can remain so, by analyzing the nature of power and the differences between economic and political power. The book then discusses the history of economic and political power, including hunter-gatherer societies, agrarian societies, and modern commercial and industrial societies. This background lends insight into why political and economic power were typically held by the same people, and why recently those without political power have been able to acquire economic power. Incentives play a key role in understanding how those two types of power can become separated, and why there is always a tendency for them to recombine. But ideas also play a crucial role, including the influence of the Enlightenment, on the progress that has occurred in the last several hundred years.

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Page Count

331

Publisher

Springer Nature

Published Date

ISBN 10

3030486672

ISBN 13

9783030486679

Writing Off Ideas

Taxation, Philanthropy and America's Non-profit Foundations

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Writing Off Ideas

Taxation, Philanthropy and America's Non-profit Foundations

By: Randall G. Holcombe

Tax-exempt foundations grew substantially in the twentieth century, both in their financial importance and in the scope of their activities. This challenging book examines the economic, cultural, and intellectual implications of tax-exempt organizations. How do various tax laws influence foundations and what types of ideas do foundations produce? How do the activities of foundations relate to the interests and intentions of their founders? Does the economic management of foundation assets serve the public good, or would such assets be better employed through the private sector? Writing Off Ideas examines these and related questions primarily by looking at specific examples as well as the overall impact of foundation practices economically and socially.

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214

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1351326945

ISBN 13

9781351326940

Producing Prosperity

An Inquiry into the Operation of the Market Process

By: Randall Holcombe

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Producing Prosperity

An Inquiry into the Operation of the Market Process

By: Randall Holcombe

The substantial prosperity that characterizes market economies at the beginning of the twenty-first century is relatively recent in human history. Prior to the Industrial Revolution, economic progress was so slow that people would not have been able to recognize it in their lifetimes, whereas today, economic progress is so much a part of people’s lives that they take it for granted. In this new volume, Randall G. Holcombe argues that economic analysis, as it developed through the twentieth century, relies heavily on concepts of economic equilibrium, and is not descriptive of the dynamic real-world economy that is characterized by economic progress. Even in dynamic settings, economic models focus on income growth, leaving out the entrepreneurial forces that generate economic progress, resulting in the introduction of new goods and services and new production processes. Economic analysis focuses on the forces that lead to an economic equilibrium, not the forces that produce prosperity. This characterization of economic analysis describes a substantial component of economics as it has developed over the past century. However, there are also economists who have analyzed the factors that lead to an entrepreneurial and innovative economy, generating progress rather than equilibrium. This volume does not question the value of past research, but argues that, looking ahead, economics should build on its past to focus on factors that create an entrepreneurial and innovative economy that is characterized by progress and prosperity. This would make economic analysis more consistent with the remarkable progress and prosperity that characterizes the modern economy. This volume lays out a framework for economic analysis that consistently incorporates the real-world factors that produce prosperity.

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274

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1136162305

ISBN 13

9781136162305

Entrepreneurship and Economic Progress

By: Randall Holcombe

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Entrepreneurship and Economic Progress

By: Randall Holcombe

Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic progress, but mainstream economic models of economic growth tend to leave out the entrepreneurial elements of the economy. This new book from Randall Holcombe begins by identifying areas in which evolutionary and Austrian approaches differ from the academic mainstream literature on economic growth, before moving on to distinguish growth from progress. The author then analyzes economic models of the firm based on the idea that it is entrepreneurship that drives economic progress. The book should prove to be a natural successor to recent Routledge books by Frederic Sautet and David Harper.

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Page Count

217

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1135984999

ISBN 13

9781135984991

Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics

By: Randall G. Holcombe

Presenting a concise overview of the post-war decline in popularity of the Austrian school of economics and its subsequent revival in the late twentieth century, this updated second edition offers a theoretical and historical introduction to the ideas of the Austrian school and its intellectually distinguishing qualities. This Advanced Introduction considers the field’s key originators and proponents and reflects on the acceleration in interest in the last two decades.

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Page Count

160

Publisher

Edward Elgar Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1789909643

ISBN 13

9781789909647

Liberalism and Cronyism

Two Rival Political and Economic Systems

By: Randall G. Holcombe and Andrea M. Castillo

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Liberalism and Cronyism

Two Rival Political and Economic Systems

By: Randall G. Holcombe and Andrea M. Castillo

Political and economic systems either allow exchange and resource allocation to take place through mutual agreement under a system of liberalism, or force them to take place under a system of cronyism in which some people have the power to direct the activities of others. This book, published by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, seeks to clarify the differences between liberalism and cronyism by scrutinizing the actual operation of various political and economic systems. Examples include historical systems such as fascism in Germany between the world wars and socialism in the former Soviet Union, as well as contemporary systems such as majoritarianism and industrial policy. By examining how real governments have operated, this book demonstrates why—despite their diverse designs—in practice all political and economic systems are variants of either liberalism or cronyism.

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126

Publisher

Mercatus Center at George Mason University

Published Date

ISBN 10

0989219305

ISBN 13

9780989219303

Liberty in Peril

Democracy and Power in American History

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Liberty in Peril

Democracy and Power in American History

By: Randall G. Holcombe

When the United States was born in the revolutionary acts of 1776, Americans viewed the role of government as the protector of their individual rights. Thus, the fundamental principle underlying the new American government was liberty. Over time, the ideology of political "democracy"—the idea that the role of government is to carry out the "will of the people," as revealed through majority rule—has displaced the ethics of liberty. This displacement has eroded individual rights systematically and that history is examined in Liberty in Peril by Randall Holcombe in language accessible to anyone. The Founders intended to design a government that would preclude tyranny and protect those individual rights, and the Bill of Rights was a clear statement of those rights. They well understood that the most serious threat to human rights and liberty is government. So, the Constitution clearly outlined a limited scope for government and set forth a form of governance that would preserve individual rights. The federal government's activities during two world wars and the Great Depression greatly increased government's involvement in people's lives. By the time of Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society," the depletion of rights and the growth of the activities of political democracy was complete. By the end of the 20th Century the fundamental principle underlying the U.S. government was now political power and not liberty. Public policy was oriented toward fulfilling the majority rule with the subsequent increase in government power and scope. Holcombe argues that economic and political systems are not separate entities but are intimately intertwined. The result is a set of tensions between democracy, liberty, a market economy, and the institutions of a free society. All those interested in the evolution of American government, including historians, political scientists, economists, and legal experts, will find this book compelling and informative.

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312

Publisher

Independent Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

1598133349

ISBN 13

9781598133349

From Liberty to Democracy

The Transformation of American Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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From Liberty to Democracy

The Transformation of American Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

An analysis of American political history using the economic framework of public choice theory

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352

Publisher

University of Michigan Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0472112902

ISBN 13

9780472112906

The Economic Foundations of Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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The Economic Foundations of Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

Government is analysed as the product of exchange among individuals who differ in their bargaining power. This approach shows why individuals agree to political institutions that give their governments extensive power, and why even the most powerful government benefits from constitutional rules constraining the government's power. This foundation is used to examine a wide range of government activities, including its protection of rights, its military activities, and democratic political institutions.

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287

Publisher

Springer

Published Date

ISBN 10

1349132306

ISBN 13

9781349132300

Growth and Variability in State Tax Revenue

An Anatomy of State Fiscal Crises

By: Randall G. Holcombe,Russell S. Sobel

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Growth and Variability in State Tax Revenue

An Anatomy of State Fiscal Crises

By: Randall G. Holcombe,Russell S. Sobel

During recessions state government fiscal crises are widespread, as states find their revenues inadequate to meet their expenditure demands. This volume shows that state fiscal crises have only one significant cause: revenue downturns associated with recessions. Other analysts have argued that fiscal crises are the result of an interaction of many complex causes, including inadequate tax bases, increasing expenditure demands, and limits placed on state governments by voters. This analysis examines these other factors and shows that while they present significant challenges to state policymakers, they are not the cause of fiscal crises. The book presents an improved methodology for measuring cyclical variability of revenues and uses this methodology to show that there is no way to restructure state tax systems in order to appreciably reduce the fiscal stress associated with recessions. Fiscal stress can be lessened by setting aside revenues during prosperous years in a rainy day fund, but current rainy day funds are not large enough to eliminate the fiscal stress caused by recessions.

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Page Count

222

Publisher

Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published Date

ISBN 10

0313029997

ISBN 13

9780313029998

The Economic Foundations of Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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The Economic Foundations of Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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273

Publisher

Palgrave Macmillan

Published Date

ISBN 10

1349132322

ISBN 13

9781349132324

Producing Prosperity

An Inquiry Into the Operation of the Market Process

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Producing Prosperity

An Inquiry Into the Operation of the Market Process

By: Randall G. Holcombe

In this new volume, Randall G. Holcombe argues that economic analysis focuses on the forces that lead to an economic equilibrium, not the forces that produce prosperity. The author argues that looking ahead, economics should build on its past to focus on factors that create an entrepreneurial and innovative economy that is characterized by progress and prosperity.

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Page Count

274

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

0415643945

ISBN 13

9780415643948

Entrepreneurship and Economic Progress

By: Randall Holcombe

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Entrepreneurship and Economic Progress

By: Randall Holcombe

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Page Count

402

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

1135984980

ISBN 13

9781135984984

Writing Off Ideas

Taxation, Foundations, and Philanthropy in America

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Writing Off Ideas

Taxation, Foundations, and Philanthropy in America

By: Randall G. Holcombe

In the 20th century tax-exempt charitble foundations in the US have grown substantially, both in their financial importance, and in the scope of their activties. This book examines the economic, cultural, and intellectual implications of these organizations.

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Page Count

214

Publisher

Transaction Publishers

Published Date

ISBN 10

0765806800

ISBN 13

9780765806802

Advanced Introduction to Public Choice

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Advanced Introduction to Public Choice

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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169

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Edward Elgar Publishing

Published Date

ISBN 10

1785362054

ISBN 13

9781785362057

Coordination, Cooperation, and Control

The Evolution of Economic and Political Power

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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Coordination, Cooperation, and Control

The Evolution of Economic and Political Power

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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328

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Palgrave Macmillan

Published Date

ISBN 10

3030486664

ISBN 13

9783030486662

From Liberty to Democracy

The Transformation of American Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

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From Liberty to Democracy

The Transformation of American Government

By: Randall G. Holcombe

An analysis of American political history using the economic framework of public choice theory

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Page Count

352

Publisher

University of Michigan Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0472112902

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9780472112906

Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics

By: Randal G Holcombe

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Advanced Introduction to the Austrian School of Economics

By: Randal G Holcombe

øElgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by some of the world�s leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid su

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