Government Debt

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Audio:

Recommended Reading:

  • Readings: James Buchanan, “Confessions of a Burden Monger,” Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 72, No. 5 (October 1964), pp. 486-488. [NOTE: This is relatively short but is an actual journal publication from Buchanan that the lay reader can understand.] Jerry H. Tempelman, “James M. Buchanan on Public-Debt Finance.” Robert P. Murphy, “Does Government Debt Burden Our Grandkids?” [NOTE: This article has links to several volleys in the debate, including to Murphy’s “The Economist Zone” blog post which gives an exhaustive play-by-play of the recent debate.] Online lecture: Robert P. Murphy, “Who Bears the Burden of Government Debt?” [NOTE: This is very similar to the Liberty Classroom lecture itself, but it gives more of the context of the debate, rather than focusing on the details.]
  • Topics: The debate over who bears the burden of government debt.