The New Economics of Human Behaviour [Paperback]

This 1995 volume demonstrates the application of Beckerian theory upon a wide range of social and political activity.Viewing important social and political issues through the eyes of economists, these essays assert that all actions--working, playing, dating, or mating--have economic motivations and consequences, and can be analyzed using economic reasoning.Viewing important social and political issues through the eyes of economists, these essays assert that all actions--working, playing, dating, or mating--have economic motivations and consequences, and can be analyzed using economic reasoning.This volume views important social and political issues through the eyes of economists. Pioneered by Gary Becker, this approach asserts that all actions, whether working, playing, dating, or mating, have economic motivations and consequences, and can be analyzed using economic reasoning. Intended as an introduction to the current state of the field, the essays are informal and nontechnical, while still using up-to-date economic reasoning to illuminate such topics as crime, marriage, discrimination, immigration, fads and fashions.Introduction Kathryn Ierulli, Edward L. Glaeser and Mariano Tommasi; Part I. Discrimination and Immigration: 1. The economics of discrimination: a primer Barry R. Chiswick; 2. The economic analysis of immigration George J. Borjas; Part II. Crime, Punishment and Rights: 3. Rational criminals and profit maximising police: the economic analysis of law enforcemen David Friedman; 4. Property rights in children James S. Coleman; Part III. All in the Family: 5. Human capital, fertility and economic growth Robert Tamura; 6. Marriage market models Shoshana Grossbard-Shechtman; 7. The marriage premium Kermit Daniel; Part IV. Government and Politics: 8. The process of government Edgardo Enrique Zablotsky; 9. The economic approach to democracy John G. Matsusaka; Part V. Health, Religion and Mass Behaviour: 10. The economic approach to addictive behavior Michael Grl³"