The State as a First-Order Cooperator
摘要
This chapter discusses the role of the state as a provider of goods and services. As I will explain, the state is dedicated not only to preserving the environment in which people interact, but also to complementing it by providing basic goods and services. I provide a detailed analysis of some of the main goods and services offered by modern states. I start with circulation infrastructure, which I divide into “static” (such as sidewalks, streets, and roads) and “mobile” (such as subways, trains, and airplanes). I then continue with health services, the education system, the media, support for vulnerable groups (which I call “integration tools”), and pension systems.