What Did Economists Do?

Euvoluntary, Voluntary, and Coercive Institutions for Collective Action

Originally published in Southern Economic Journal

The article offers a memorial tribute to economist James M. Buchanan, focusing on his November 19633 presidential address to the Southern Economic Association. It considers Buchanan's distinction between voluntary and potentially coercive exchange relationships as well as examines the economics literature on voluntary and potentially coercive relationships in the field of collective action.

The article offers a memorial tribute to economist James M. Buchanan, focusing on his November 19633 presidential address to the Southern Economic Association. It considers Buchanan's distinction between voluntary and potentially coercive exchange relationships as well as examines the economics literature on voluntary and potentially coercive relationships in the field of collective action. Ideas that have emerged regarding institutional design and performance are discussed.

Find the article at the Southern Economic Journal.

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