Teaching Public Economics with Special Reference to Australian and US Cultures. (28th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Abelson, Peter
• Is Part Of: Australian economic review. Volume 52:Number 3(2019:Sep.)
• Page Start: 279
• Page End: 293
• Publication Date: 2019-03-28
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- 1945-; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Australie -- Politique économique -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- 1945- -- Périodiques; 330.994005
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8462.12318
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-9018

Abstract

Abstract: This article discusses how teaching public economics is, and should be, related to national cultures. The article shows how the US culture of distrust of government influences the two major US texts (Rosen and Gayer 2014; Gruber 2016) that dominate the teaching of public economics in Australia and elsewhere. By contrast, Stiglitz and Rosengard's (2015) text on public economics emphasises the role of government in providing social welfare. These traditions may be described as neo‐liberal and social democratic respectively. I conclude that the social democratic approach reflects Australian culture and is more appropriate for teaching public economics in Australian universities.