A Theory of the Theory of Public Goods

"The persistence of the theory of public goods makes sense if the theory of public goods is considered as a tool of the government to justifY the legitimacy of its activities and make it less costly to get citizens to comply with its wishes. The theory is promulgated by the state-supported education system, giving educators, as employees of this state-supported industry, an incentive to promote the theory of public goods. This all-purpose justification for government activity serves the government well by arguing that its activities are legitimate means of enhancing social welfare, in order to create ideological support for the public sector. The theory of public goods does not do a very good job of explaining what the government actually does, or should do, but can be better understood as a tool that the government employs for its own benefits."