The Role of the Government in Private Governance Structures

U of St. Gallen, Economics Discussion Paper No. 2003-11

34 Pages Posted: 27 Jun 2003

See all articles by Lars P. Feld

Lars P. Feld

Walter Eucken Institute; University of Freiburg - College of Economics and Behavioral Sciences; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Gebhard Kirchgässner

Universität St. Gallen; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Date Written: April 2003

Abstract

First, a brief sketch of the economic tasks government has to perform are given, before three issues are discussed in more detail: Public production, competition policy, and government interventions in Corporate Governance. These three issues are of particular political relevance in Switzerland, partly because the Swiss citizens clearly expressed in referenda that they prefer a larger role of the government in these areas than most economists recommend. Finally, we discuss two developments which have shifted the perspective by which the role of the government is viewed: The increasing internationalisation of economic policy and the role of intermediary institutions between the state and the market.

Keywords: Public Production, Competition Policy, Regulation, Corporate Governance

JEL Classification: H10

Suggested Citation

Feld, Lars P. and Kirchgaessner, Gebhard, The Role of the Government in Private Governance Structures (April 2003). U of St. Gallen, Economics Discussion Paper No. 2003-11, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=401880 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.401880

Lars P. Feld (Contact Author)

Walter Eucken Institute ( email )

Goethestrasse 10
Freiburg im Breisgau, Baden-Württemberg D-79100
Germany

University of Freiburg - College of Economics and Behavioral Sciences ( email )

Freiburg, D-79085
Germany

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Gebhard Kirchgaessner

Universität St. Gallen ( email )

SIAW, Bodanstrasse 8
CH-9000 St.Gallen
Switzerland
+41 71 224 23 47 (Phone)
+41 71 224 22 98 (Fax)

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany