Heap-ing on Lippmann: liberalising behavioural public policy

Oliver, Adam ORCID: 0000-0003-3880-9350 (2024) Heap-ing on Lippmann: liberalising behavioural public policy. Review of Behavioural Economics, 11 (2). 255 - 273. ISSN 2326-6198

Text (Heap-ing on Lippmann) - Accepted Version Download (344kB)

• Author
• Scopus publication

Abstract

In several articles over the past decade, Shaun Hargreaves Heap has proposed a liberal, constitutional approach to behavioural public policy that conflicts with the paternalistic consequentialist approaches that have dominated the field to date. In recent years, I too have developed a behavioural public policy framework that sits within the classical liberal tradition. Recently, in commenting on my book, A Political Economy of Behavioural Public Policy, Hargreaves Heap identified similarities between my approach and that of the great 20th Century journalist and scholar, Walter Lippmann. In this article, I outline Lippmann’s arguments in his classic book, The Good Society, in some detail, and reach the conclusion that Hargreaves Heap was right in suggesting that I am a Lippmannite. Finally, given that Hargreaves Heap and I share a belief in liberalism, I summarise why I think he is a Lippmannite too.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.nowpublishers.com/RBE
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Author
Divisions:	Social Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences
JEL classification:	A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A13 - Relation of Economics to Social Values B - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology > B2 - History of Economic Thought since 1925 > B20 - General B - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology > B2 - History of Economic Thought since 1925 > B25 - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Austrian P - Economic Systems > P0 - General > P00 - General
Date Deposited:	14 Mar 2024 12:03
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2025 19:01
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/122374

Actions (login required)

View Item