The Political Economy of Reform: Normative Political Economy
Author(s)
Streeten, Paul
Abstract
This article emphasizes collective struggles over the distribution of the costs of children. Because the production of children’s capabilities creates a public good that cannot be priced in the market, individuals can free ride on the efforts of parents in general and mothers in particular. We need to redesign the social contract in ways that encourage more sustainable forms of intergenerational altruism and reciprocity.