Deep Dive: Randy Simmons on Public Choice

In this episode of The Great Antidote, guest Randy Simmons and host Juliette Sellgren discuss the origins and growth of Public Choice Economics, James Buchanan, and what it means to study “politics without romance.” Simmons draws on his research and personal experiences as an employee at the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC, as a member of his city council for 10 years, and as a mayor for 4 years. Randy Simmons is the author of Beyond Politics and the director of the Institute of Political Economy at Utah State University.

Simmons talks about what governments can do well: sewer systems, water systems, potholes, garbage. He also talks about people asking government officials and institutions to do too much and to do things they can’t be good at. It’s not intuitive that governments can’t do these things and powerful interest groups also get involved. 

The most surprising thing Simmons says he has learned over the years is that good intentions are not enough to make good things happen. Incentives—not intentions need to be the focus and most regulation ends up making things worse, not better. 

Simmons also expressed concerns about freedom of speech, a frequent topic of conversation on this podcast. 

University profile; Google Scholar profile; Center for Growth and Opportunity profile; PERC (Property and Environment Research Center) profile; YouTube videos from The Independent Institute

Beyond Politics: The Roots of Government Failure.

Topics mentioned 

Resources compiled by Christy Lynn