On the Political Economy of Privacy in Communities that Include Both Friends and Foes

22 Pages Posted: 16 Sep 2016

See all articles by Roger D. Congleton

Roger D. Congleton

West Virginia University - Department of Economics; George Mason University - Center for Study of Public Choice

Date Written: August 4, 2016

Abstract

This paper develops a conceptual framework for analyzing privacy issues. Neither privacy nor fame are ordinary economic goods. The demand for both are derived from their associated consequences. In some settings privacy is useful, in others not. When applied to privacy relevant public policies, the analysis indicates that there are significant differences between the privacy-relevant policies of authoritarian and democratic regimes. The analysis also demonstrates why technology affects public support for privacy relevant policies. A shift from “stove pipe” to “big data” tends to reduce electoral support for government expenditures on detection activities.

Keywords: privacy, stealth, fame, signaling, big data, political economy of privacy

JEL Classification: D7

Suggested Citation

Congleton, Roger D., On the Political Economy of Privacy in Communities that Include Both Friends and Foes (August 4, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2838979 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2838979

Roger D. Congleton (Contact Author)

West Virginia University - Department of Economics ( email )

PO Box 6025
Morgantown, WV 26506
United States

HOME PAGE: http://rdc1.net

George Mason University - Center for Study of Public Choice ( email )

4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
United States

HOME PAGE: http://rdc1.net

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