Economics Commons^™

Public Choice Economics Consistent With A Biblical Worldview, Jeffrey E. Haymond

Business Administration Faculty Presentations

Public choice economics is often criticized by its critics not primarily for its lack of empirical content, but more often from its incomplete view of human nature; i.e., its “cynicism.” Even supporters seem to implicitly accept the critics’ view of public choice as only allowing a view of government from a selfish perspective. In this article, I will examine the biblical basis for the fundamental assumption of public choice: that individuals act according to their self-interest, whether in the public or the private sector. I will argue that a true view of human nature will include the biblical view of …