Background
Holcombe, Randall Gregory was born on June 4, 1950 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. Son of Lynn Montanye Holcombe and Gloria Gabriel (Rita) Ledbetter.
( Holcombe presents theoretical models, melds theory and ...)
Holcombe presents theoretical models, melds theory and empirical work, and juxtaposes economics and political science. Further, he provides insights into such concepts as agenda control, points out the advantages of incumbency, explains government as a natural monopoly, establishes an updating of the social contract, and examines the virtues of common law in contrast to statutory law. In his final chapters, Holcombe provides a foundation upon which the preceding chapters are logically built. From his analysis, it appears that there is an approximate correspondence between voter preferences and political outcomes, as depicted by a median voter model, but that for many reasons resource allocation through the public sector is considerably less efficient than through the private sector.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809310821/?tag=2022091-20
( Democratic decisions determine the allocation of resou...)
Democratic decisions determine the allocation of resources through the public sector. Holcombe uses the median voter model as a base, but goes on to develop a more general multidimensional model of democratic decision making that incorporates many theoretical developments of the past decade. He focuses upon the representative body of government and the fact that representatives can profit more from passing legislation to benefit special interests than from passing legislation in the general public interest. Using these insights Holcombe develops a model that describes the allocative effects of making economic decisions by majority rule. The model describes a stable equilibrium outcome for majority rule decisions made in a multidimensional setting; it is a logical extension of the framework established in his well-received Public Finance and the Political Process.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809312115/?tag=2022091-20
( The world is too complex for anyone to ever hope to und...)
The world is too complex for anyone to ever hope to understand all of its interrelationships simultaneously. Yet small aspects of the world we live in can be represented by comprehensible models. This is why economists use models in their analysis and research. In Economic Models and Methodology, Holcombe examines the way in which models are used in economics, and makes specific methodological recommendations more restrictive than the methodological doctrine of pluralism. Holcombe's book is not an encyclopedia of methodology, but rather an analysis of mainstream methodology, and an examination of the use of models in economics. Holcombe examines the role of assumptions in models, the use of empirical models in economics, and specific applications of models in both macroeconomics and microeconomics.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0313266794/?tag=2022091-20
( This welcome work argues that government is the result ...)
This welcome work argues that government is the result of a contract arrived at by individuals with varying bargaining power. Holcombe explores such issues as why the political system protects individual's rights, why individuals agree to political institutions that give their governments extensive power, and why even the most powerful government benefits from constitutional rules which constrain its power. He arrives at a theory of rights, constitutions, and government that does not rely, as economists have traditionally done, on value judgments. Very much at the cutting edge of economic thinking, this book will interest undergraduates and professionals in the fields of economics, political science, and government.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0814735061/?tag=2022091-20
( This volume argues that the virtues of the market syste...)
This volume argues that the virtues of the market system, private property, and freedom of exchange can be applied to enhance the quality of life. Although people recognize in the abstract that markets work better than government in allocating resources, government's presence in the economy increases as government intervenes to deal with different problems. This book shows how the market mechanism that has enhanced material well-being is better suited than government planning to improve the quality of life. After examining general principles guiding both market and government allocation of resources, the book then examines specific policy issues, including environmental protection, health care, regulation of product quality, and land use planning. The book first examines the general principles that guide both market and government allocation of resources to show why market mechanisms work better than government planning to enhance the quality of life. Then specific policy issues are examined to provide examples of how market forces can be harnessed to improve the quality of life. Some of those issues are environmental protection, health care, the regulation of product quality, and land use planning.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0313293589/?tag=2022091-20
( During recessions state government fiscal crises are wi...)
During recessions state government fiscal crises are widespread, as states find their revenues inadequate to meet their expenditure demands. This volume shows that state fiscal crises have only one significant cause: revenue downturns associated with recessions. Other analysts have argued that fiscal crises are the result of an interaction of many complex causes, including inadequate tax bases, increasing expenditure demands, and limits placed on state governments by voters. This analysis examines these other factors and shows that while they present significant challenges to state policymakers, they are not the cause of fiscal crises. The book presents an improved methodology for measuring cyclical variability of revenues and uses this methodology to show that there is no way to restructure state tax systems in order to appreciably reduce the fiscal stress associated with recessions. Fiscal stress can be lessened by setting aside revenues during prosperous years in a rainy day fund, but current rainy day funds are not large enough to eliminate the fiscal stress caused by recessions.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0313304238/?tag=2022091-20
( Tax-exempt foundations grew substantially in the twenti...)
Tax-exempt foundations grew substantially in the twentieth century, both in their financial importance and in the scope of their activities. This challenging book examines the economic, cultural, and intellectual implications of tax-exempt organizations. How do various tax laws influence foundations and what types of ideas do foundations produce? How do the activities of foundations relate to the interests and intentions of their founders? Does the economic management of foundation assets serve the public good, or would such assets be better employed through the private sector? Writing Off Ideas examines these and related questions primarily by looking at specific examples as well as the overall impact of foundation practices economically and socially.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0765806800/?tag=2022091-20
( At the nation's founding, the fundamental principle und...)
At the nation's founding, the fundamental principle underlying American government was liberty, and the nation's new government was designed to protect the rights of individuals. The American founders intended to design a government that would protect the rights of its citizens, and at that time the most serious threat to people's rights was government. Thus, the United States government was designed with a constitutionally limited scope to preserve the rights of individuals and limit the powers of government. The government's activities during two world wars and the Great Depression greatly increased its involvement in people's economic affairs, and by the time of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, the transformation was complete. By the end of the twentieth century, the fundamental principle underlying American government had been transformed to democracy, and public policy was designed to further the will of the majority. The result has been a government that is larger and broader in scope. From Liberty to Democracy examines American political history using the framework of public choice theory to show how American government grew more democratic, and how this resulted in an increase in the size and scope of government. It should appeal to historians, political scientists, and economists who are interested in the evolution of American government but does not assume any specialized training and can be read by anyone interested in American political history. Randall G. Holcombe is DeVoe Moore Professor of Economics, Florida State University
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0472112902/?tag=2022091-20
(For courses in Public Finance, Public Economics, Public S...)
For courses in Public Finance, Public Economics, Public Sector Economics, and The Economics of Taxation. Holcombe takes a "public choice" approach to public finance and looks at public policy as a product of the democratic decision-making process.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0131450425/?tag=2022091-20
( Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic progress, bu...)
Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic progress, but mainstream economic models of economic growth tend to leave out the entrepreneurial elements of the economy. This new book from Randall Holcombe begins by identifying areas in which evolutionary and Austrian approaches differ from the academic mainstream literature on economic growth, before moving on to distinguish growth from progress. The author then analyzes economic models of the firm based on the idea that it is entrepreneurship that drives economic progress. The book should prove to be a natural successor to recent Routledge books by Frederic Sautet and David Harper.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415780233/?tag=2022091-20
Holcombe, Randall Gregory was born on June 4, 1950 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States. Son of Lynn Montanye Holcombe and Gloria Gabriel (Rita) Ledbetter.
Bachelor of Science, U. Florida, 1972; Master of Arts, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1974; Doctor of Philosophy, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1976.
Assistant professor Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, College Station, 1975-1977. Professor Auburn (Alabama) University, 1977-1988, Florida State University, Tallahassee, since 1988. Senior fellow James Madison Institute, Tallahassee, 2004^, member research advisory committee, 1987-2004, chairman, 1991-2004.
Member editorial board, Review Austrian Economics, 1987-1997, Public Finance Review, 1995-2003, Quarterly Journal Austrian Economics, since 1998. Adjunct scholar Ludwig Von Mises Institute, since 1982. Member Florida Governor's Council Economic Advisors, 2000-2006.
Contributing editor Independent Review, since 2004.
( At the nation's founding, the fundamental principle und...)
( Entrepreneurship is the engine of economic progress, bu...)
( This volume argues that the virtues of the market syste...)
( During recessions state government fiscal crises are wi...)
( Tax-exempt foundations grew substantially in the twenti...)
( This welcome work argues that government is the result ...)
( Holcombe presents theoretical models, melds theory and ...)
( The world is too complex for anyone to ever hope to und...)
(For courses in Public Finance, Public Economics, Public S...)
(Public Sector Economics: The Role Of Government In The Am...)
( Democratic decisions determine the allocation of resou...)
(Book by Holcombe, Randall G.)
Author: Public Finance and the Political Process, 1983, An Economic Analysis of Democracy, 1985, Economic Models and Methodology, 1989, The Economic Foundations of Government, 1994, Public Policy and the Quality of Life, 1995, Public Finance: Government Revenues and Expenditures in the United States Economy, 1996, (with R. Sobel) Growth and Variability in State Tax Revenue, 1997, Writing Off Ideas, 2000, From Liberty to Democracy: The Transformation of American Government, 2002, Public Sector Economics, 2007, Entrepreneurship and Economic Progress, 2006. Book review editor Public Choice, since 2005, member editorial board, since 2004. Contributor articles to professional journals.
Member Florida Governor Council Economic Advisory, 2000—2006. Member American Economic Association, Public Choice Society (president 2006-2008), Southern Economic Association, Western Economic Association, Society for Development of Austrian Economics (president 2007).
Married Lora Hunt Pritchett, June 18, 1983.