COMM 394 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Marginal Utility, Pareto Efficiency, Marginalism
Document Summary
This course asks two questions: what should the role of the government be? (normative, what factors explain the actual conduct of the government? (positive) Normative prescriptive, by answering it we suggest/prescribe what the government should do. Government should promote the public interest, hence the first question also known as the public interest approach . Positive descriptive, by answering we try to explain/describe why things are as they are. Actual policy is the outcome of the market , may contradict with the public interest, also known as the private interest approach . Focuses on objectives, behavior, and interaction of individuals and groups who influence policy decisions. Examines why policy takes the form it does (i. e. voting) Goals the gov"t should try and achieve (normative: reasons for policies): Economic efficiency: increase per capita benefits from the consumption of goods and services as high as possible (very impor. for areas with scarcity and poverty issues)
