Beyond Politics: The Roots of Government Failure and the Case for Private Action
Oct 2026 · Sold by Simon and Schuster
Ebook
360
Pages
family_home
Eligible
info
infoThis book will become available on October 27, 2026. You will not be charged until it is released.
About this ebook
Fully revised and updated third edition of Randy T. Simmon's landmark examination of "government failure" viewed through the lens of public choice theory, explaining how governments produce stagnation, scandals, and public distrust.
Are there really as many market failures as we’ve been led to believe? Or might these be better understood as political failures?
Designed both as a stand-alone guide for curious readers and a classroom companion for undergraduate courses, this updated edition of Beyond Politics is a provocative introduction to public choice economics. Challenging the familiar assumption that government intervention is the natural solution to “market failure,” Randy Simmons—professor of economics, entrepreneur, and Director of the Center on Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University—and Diana W. Thomas—professor of Economics, co-editor of the prestigious The Independent Review journal, and Director of the Institute for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University—blend engaging stories, historical examples, and accessible analysis to show how political and economic systems really function.
Drawing on decades of public choice scholarship, each chapter of this book shows why well-intentioned political actors often produce outcomes that fall far short of the public good. After all, just as markets are shaped by incentives and information, so too are voters, bureaucrats, and policymakers—frequently leading to unintended consequences and costly policy failures.
Through compelling case studies—including the surprising history of privately operated lighthouses (which, as it turns out, often outperformed government monopolies!)—Beyond Politics shows how voluntary cooperation and institutional innovation can and do solve complex social challenges.
Clear, engaging, and thought-provoking, Beyond Politics challenges readers to look beyond traditional political solutions and discover how decentralized human cooperation has long been the most powerful force for peace and prosperity.
Are there really as many market failures as we’ve been led to believe? Or might these be better understood as political failures?
Designed both as a stand-alone guide for curious readers and a classroom companion for undergraduate courses, this updated edition of Beyond Politics is a provocative introduction to public choice economics. Challenging the familiar assumption that government intervention is the natural solution to “market failure,” Randy Simmons—professor of economics, entrepreneur, and Director of the Center on Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University—and Diana W. Thomas—professor of Economics, co-editor of the prestigious The Independent Review journal, and Director of the Institute for Economic Inquiry at Creighton University—blend engaging stories, historical examples, and accessible analysis to show how political and economic systems really function.
Drawing on decades of public choice scholarship, each chapter of this book shows why well-intentioned political actors often produce outcomes that fall far short of the public good. After all, just as markets are shaped by incentives and information, so too are voters, bureaucrats, and policymakers—frequently leading to unintended consequences and costly policy failures.
Through compelling case studies—including the surprising history of privately operated lighthouses (which, as it turns out, often outperformed government monopolies!)—Beyond Politics shows how voluntary cooperation and institutional innovation can and do solve complex social challenges.
Clear, engaging, and thought-provoking, Beyond Politics challenges readers to look beyond traditional political solutions and discover how decentralized human cooperation has long been the most powerful force for peace and prosperity.
Fully revised and updated third edition of Randy T. Simmon's landmark examination of "government failure" viewed through the lens of public choice theory, explaining how governments produce stagnation, scandals, and public distrust.
Are there really as many market failures as we’ve been led to b...
Discover more
About the author
Randy T. Simmons is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute; Professor of Economics and Director of the Center on Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business; Co-Founder, President and Director of Research of Strata; Senior Fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center; and former Mayor of Providence, Utah. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Oregon, and he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Utah League of Cities and Towns and a Member of the Utah Governor's Privatization Commission.
Diana W. Thomas is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Economic Inquiry in the Heider College of Business at Creighton University, and Co-Editor of The Independent Review. She received her Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, and she previously served as Assistant Professor of Economics in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.
Diana W. Thomas is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Institute for Economic Inquiry in the Heider College of Business at Creighton University, and Co-Editor of The Independent Review. She received her Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, and she previously served as Assistant Professor of Economics in the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Utah State University.
Randy T. Simmons is a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute; Professor of Economics and Director of the Center on Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University's Jon M. Huntsman School of Business; Co-Founder, President and Director of Research of Strata; Senior Fellow at the Property and ...
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
