tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1650639675295470414.post222310994961510599..comments2023-09-13T03:21:54.927-07:00Comments on Real Progress: The Coase theorem meets global federalismFrancesc Trillashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03597427228847153318noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1650639675295470414.post-78457623411730099592014-12-10T23:46:15.129-08:002014-12-10T23:46:15.129-08:00The local public has an important role in any real...The local public has an important role in any real progress. You can fine-tune rules, but they'll only make a difference if they're enforced. Each country makes its own rules, with legislators potentially setting up loopholes for themselves.<br /><br />I think the issue with nascent democracies is not so much that the rules aren't good or that they're not using some cutting-edge theorem.<br /><br />It's more to do with a culture of non-compliance with authority in general, which is deeply rooted in the communist experience. In my country, Hungary, you are not to comply with whoever's in power, that's the hard-wired lesson from centuries of oppression. It will take a long time to unlearn. Luckily, we're making progress now with the community-focussed Orbán government in charge - it's an irony of fate that the international perception does not reflect that at all. <br /><br />Property rules: any tinkering with property rules is as good as the commitment of wealthy individuals to observe them. The West is way ahead in this respect, but that's not due to rules, it's due to time and the focus on what's good for the community.<br /><br />Rules are there to benefit the community, including its compliant members, but never vice versa. Individuals only benefit when the critical mass is reached and maintained, i.e. the focus is on the community. That logic has yet to trickle down to the public in the East.<br /><br />As for progress in Europe: you've probably noticed that given the chance, the majority of people would vote against the EU. Which means that 'progress' is largely on bureaucrats' desks, not in the public mind. People need to feel involved, listened to, borne in mind and benefiting from the process to come on board.Vértes Lászlóhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09522550557610325598noreply@blogger.com