Mike Munger

Duke University professor of political science with joint appointments in economics and public policy. An economist and public-choice scholar, he researches markets, regulation, and government institutions.

Public Choice Tests Government Against the Politicians Who Wield Its Power

Economist Mike Munger argues that public choice begins by treating government not as a benevolent whole but as institutions run by people with their own information limits and incentives. In a conversation with Russ Roberts, he says voters’ rational inattention and politicians’ pressure to win elections make political decisions harder to assess than appeals to “the will of the people” suggest. Munger’s test for new government powers is to replace “government” with the name of a politician you distrust and see whether the proposal still appeals.

Hoover InstitutionSep 28, 202617 min read