On the possibility of state neutrality ∗

Bibliographic Data

ID12230293
AuthorsChristos Pitelis (0000-0001-9033-6357, University of St Andrews, corresponding author), loanna Glykoy-Pitelis (Technological Educational Institute of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace)
Year1991
Volume3
Issue1
Pages15-24
Publication date1991-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReview of Political Economy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0953-8259 • E-ISSN: 1465-3982
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09538259100000002
OpenAlexW2039129106
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited13

The mainstream neoclassical theory of the state is based on the assertion that the state in market economies is neutral, in the sense of being a mere reflector of the collective will and a mechanism of conflict resolution/consensus building. Rival theories such as the ‘Marxist’, ‘Austrian’, ‘Chicago school’ and ‘public choice school’ reject this idea, without however providing and analysis of the very notion of the possibility of state neutrality. Rather than choosing between two assertions, this paper attempts to attack the notion of state neutrality per se. Based on the defences of the neutrality concept by pluralist political theorists and by economists, we identify three different types of state neutrality-weak neutrality, consensual neutrality and structurally induced neutrality. We argue that in the presence of distributional inequities none of these concepts is realistic or satisfactory

Assertion · Economics · Law and economics · Mainstream · Marxist philosophy · Neoclassical economics · Neutrality · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · State (computer science · Computer Science · Economic Theory and Institutions · Economic Theory and Policy · Law · Political Economy and Marxism

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