What If this is as Good as it Gets?

Abstract

This article reviews Richard Epstein's book, Principles for a Free Society: Reconciling Individual Liberty with the Common Good and argues that, whereas it is a fine book, it never does satisfy its quest of telling us how to sort out the bona fides of a proposed public good. Unless one has a grip on the public goods question (which ones really are good and which ones are phonies), it becomes impossible for a consequentialist libertarian to define or defend a limit for the exercise of state power.

Keywords: Libertarianism, Liberty, Individual Rights, Public Goods

JEL Classification: K00