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On the public provision of positional goods.

Authors :
Christofzik, Désirée I
Kessing, Sebastian G
Source :
Oxford Economic Papers; Jul2024, Vol. 76 Issue 3, p708-721, 14p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

We investigate whether the public provision of positional goods can be a sensible instrument to address inefficiencies arising from relative-standing externalities associated with the excessive consumption of such goods. In situations where consumers face a discrete choice between a private and a public alternative, providing the latter for free or at a subsidized rate generates incentives to opt for the public alternative. This allows to reduce excessive consumption. We show that such policies can increase welfare and characterize situations where they can even implement efficiency. Efficiency can typically be achieved if the non-positional utility component is sufficiently important. Moreover, we investigate how the public provision of positional goods may be a useful policy instrument in second-best situations, where either the government is constrained to rely on distortionary taxes, or where it redistributes facing information constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjects

Subjects :
PUBLIC spending
EXTERNALITIES

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00307653
Volume :
76
Issue :
3
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Oxford Economic Papers
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
177905413
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1093/oep/gpad034