The New Prohibitionism: The Movement to Regulate Personal Behavior

Abstract

This paper applies economic analysis and rights theory to the movement of governments to regulate personal behavior in the areas of alcohol, tobacco and food consumption, free speech, gun ownership, sex, the body as property, the right to work. Utilitarianism and rights theory are also discussed.

Keywords: prohibition, personal behavior, alcohol, tobacco, food, free speech, commercial speech, advertising, product labeling, forced speech, health claims, FDA, gun ownership, firearms, sex, dwarf tossing, choice, occupational licensure, public interest, balancing of interests, utilitarian, rights, ethics

JEL Classification: A13, A14, B53, D18, D45, D46, D63, D71, I1, I18, I3, J44, K12, Z1