Understanding Society and Policy Models: Market vs. Polis

What does the Market model emphasize?

Individuals acting alone to maximize self-interest through voluntary and rational exchanges.

How does the Polis model differ from the Market model?

It views society as interdependent groups where influence and cooperation matter as much as self-interest.

What are the two competing models of society introduced by Stone?

Market model and Polis model.

What is 'the paradox of altruism' according to Stone?

Helping others can provide personal satisfaction, challenging the notion of purely self-interested behavior.

What role does influence play in the Polis model?

People's wants and choices are shaped by others, leading to phenomena like bandwagon effects and mob behavior.

What are the six distributive principles in equity?

Membership, Merit, Rank, Group-based, Need, and Value.

What does the principle of 'Membership' in equity refer to?

Determining who is eligible to receive something based on criteria like citizenship or residency.

Define the 'Need' principle in the context of equity.

Should individuals who have less receive more to ensure fairness?

What is the significance of the 'Lottery' method in distribution?

It is perceived as neutral because it avoids bias in selection.

What does Stone argue about market theory's assumptions?

They often overlook emotional, moral, and social pressures affecting decision-making.

What are externalities in market exchanges?

Effects on third parties not involved in the transaction, which market theory typically ignores.

How does Stone define welfare?

Welfare is about well-being, which is subjective and varies based on different dimensions of need.

What are the six dimensions of need identified by Stone?

Material vs. symbolic, intrinsic vs. instrumental, volatility vs. security, and others.

What does 'volatility vs. security' refer to in welfare?

People fear loss more than they value equivalent gains, affecting their sense of security and welfare.

What is the critique of neoliberalism according to Stone?

It assumes markets outperform government in all areas, including public goods, which is often not the case.

What does Stone mean by 'Whose efficiency?'

Efficiency calculations require subjective decisions about whose costs and benefits are considered.

What is the role of passion in political behavior according to the Polis model?

Emotions like fear, pride, and love of community significantly influence political actions.

How does the Polis model view information?

Information is incomplete and strategically shared, contrasting with the Market model's assumption of full information.

What is the importance of cooperation in the Polis model?

People can work together without direct payoffs, relying on norms of reciprocity and trust.

What does Stone suggest about the nature of power?

Power is the ability to influence others' actions and is intertwined with factors like information and emotion.

What is the significance of group loyalty in the Polis model?

People often act as members of groups, which shapes their behavior and decisions.

What does Stone argue about the assumptions of market theory regarding rationality?

Market theory assumes buyers and sellers are fully rational, which is challenged by real-world behaviors.

What is the critique of market theory's view on public goods?

Markets under-provide public goods because they cannot easily charge for them.

What does Stone mean by 'efficiency as a political claim'?

Efficiency is often framed as a technical issue but is rooted in political decisions about value and distribution.

What is the difference between measurable quality and actual value in policy?

Measurable quality often focuses on standardized tests and specific cutoffs, while actual value includes critical thinking and healing.

What are individual needs that cannot be fulfilled by resources alone?

Friendship, dignity, belonging, and community.

What is the difference between absolute and relative needs?

Absolute needs use a fixed cutoff, while relative needs are defined by one's standing compared to others.

Define public goods.

Goods that are non-excludable and non-rival, such as clean air.

What is the free rider problem?

Benefiting from a public good without contributing to its provision.

What are externalities?

Costs or benefits that spill over to people outside the transaction.

What are positional goods?

Goods whose value depends on relative standing and scarcity.

What is negative liberty according to Mill?

Freedom from coercion by others, allowing individuals to act unless they harm others.

What is positive liberty according to Berlin?

The actual ability to conceive and achieve goals, requiring real resources.

What complications arise with the harm principle?

Determining what counts as 'harm' is a political choice, not a scientific fact.

What is paternalism in the context of liberty?

Restricting someone's liberty for their own good, which negative liberty seeks to forbid.

What is libertarian paternalism or 'nudge'?

A middle path where the government sets default options that are beneficial but allows opt-out.

What is the liberty-equality trade-off?

Expanding one group's positive liberty often requires taking resources from another group.

What are the three ways leaders produce security?

Prevention, mitigation, and reassurance.

What is the reassurance paradox?

Leaders must claim both prevention of threats and preparedness for them, which can conflict.

What is the 'one percent doctrine'?

Treating even a tiny probability of catastrophe as certainty and acting decisively.

What is moral hazard?

When protection from a bad outcome encourages riskier behavior.

What is the security-democracy trade-off?

Measures that increase security can reduce democratic accountability and civil liberties.

How do symbols shape policy problems?

Symbols represent meanings that can influence how solutions are perceived and defined.

What is synecdoche in policy narratives?

Using a small part to represent a whole category of a problem.

What role do metaphors play in policy?

Metaphors imply resemblances and solutions, framing issues in specific ways.

What is ambiguity in symbols?

A symbol can have different meanings for different people, which can be politically useful.

How can ambiguity benefit coalitions?

It allows diverse groups to unite under the same symbol for different reasons.

What is the FDA/Olestra example?

Olestra was approved as 'safe' but required warning labels, illustrating the complexities of policy and safety.