We propose a new approach to the normative analysis of public-good provision in a large economy. Our analysis is based on a mechanism design approach that involves a requirement of coalition-proofness, as well as a requirement of robustness, so that the mechanism must not depend on specific assumptions about individual beliefs. Our main result shows that such a mechanism can condition only on t...

This paper studies the equilibrium size of countries. Individuals in small countries have greater influence over the nature of political decision making while individuals in large countries have the advantage of more public goods and lower tax rates. The model implies that (i) there exists excessive incentives to separate, though this need not be the case for all sets of secession rules studied...

Knowledge of how science is consumed in public domains essential for a deeper understanding the role human society. While heavily supported by funding, common depictions suggest that scientific research remains an isolated or 'ivory tower' activity, with weak connectivity to use, little relationship between quality and its correspondence funding use. This paper introduces measurement framework ...

purpose:  the paper aims to focus on south africa’s poor economic performance and the regular downgrades of the country’s economic and financial rating by international rating agencies. it attempts to show that these continuous downgrades are a recipe for economic and financial disaster in the long – run; that the continuance of this phenomenon will stymie the implementation of the national dev...