3 ms·
When it comes to government (taxes, spending, elections, etc.), that is the usual case, which is why governments need the backing of law (and ultimately force)
by perilunar 3y ago
When it comes to government (taxes, spending, elections, etc.), that is the usual case, which is why governments need the backing of law (and ultimately force) to get things done.
- jameshart 3y agoThat is indeed what 'zero sum thinkers' tend to assume about government. Government is, though, a solution to 'collective action' problems, which usually have prisoner's dilemma payoff matrices. A problem could be solved if everyone acted. But individually, none of them have the incentive to act alone, so the default result is for nobody to act. Government allows a group of people to agree that when there's a collective action benefit available, they'll take it, together. That is explicitly not a zero sum outcome.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- sokoloff 3y agoGovernment also takes many courses of action that aren’t positive sum.
- globular-toast 3y agoNot intentionally, unless you are talking about corruption.
- sokoloff 3y agoIn your opinion, is the TSA positive sum, corruption, or an example of my thesis?