Overview

Pollution, higher traffic noise, or a poisoned river are all examples of externalities---costs (or benefits) which are imposed by an action but which are not built in to the price of that action. One of the problems of economic theory is whether, when analysing the desirability of a new road, for example, the costs that occur as externalities can be fully incorporated into the price of that road. Dr Andreas Papandreou has provided a book which fully explains and analyses the ideas lying behind the theory of externalities. Papandreou has made a survey of the various methodological approaches taken by economists to the issue of eternalities, and the failure of some markets to reconcile individual and social costs and benefits. He tackles the difficult issue of defining or characterizing externalities, surveys the current literature, and investigates the effect that externality theory has had on major economic issues. His major theme is an exploration of institutional inefficiency and the implications of incorporating organizational costs into economic models. Written in a non-technical style, this book is suitable not only for those economists who make a study of externalities, but for those who need to understand the theory for their own fields of research, and for postgraduate students.

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9780198293071

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Reviews

'Papandreou's efforts to clarify the various meanings given to the externality concept, and his emphasis throughout on the centrality of issues of institutions are of great value, and will be of significant aid to those seeking to further advance the discussion.' Malcolm Rutherford, Journal of Economic Literature '[any] reader interested in externality theory, institutional analysis, or public policy will profit from reading this book' E. C. Pasour, Jr., American Journal of Agricultural Economics

`The reader interested in externality theory, institutional analysis, or public policy will profit from reading this book. The author's analysis of the complex notion of externality emphasizes anew the inherent dilemma with the neoclassical idea of economic inefficiency.' American Journal of Agricultural Economics

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