Action Quote by Brian Barry
“Now it is worth noticing two things about the private substitutes that I have described. The first is that in the aggregate they are probably much more expensive than would be the implementation of the appropriate public policy. The second is that they are extremely poor replacements for the missing outcomes of good public policy. Nevertheless, it is plain that the members of a society can become so alienated from one another, so mistrustful of any form of collective action, that they prefer to go it alone.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Public Policy and Private Substitutes, Brian Barry, 1995
Private alternatives often cost more and fail to deliver the benefits that effective public policies would provide, yet people may still favor them due to distrust of collective action.
In simple terms: Private options are pricier and less effective than good public policies, but people may choose them out of mistrust.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limits of private solutions and work to rebuild trust in public institutions.
Themes
public policy
trust
collective action
private substitutes
social cohesion
Mood
skeptical
reflective
concerned
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- policy design
- community building
- advocacy
- civic education
- trust restoration
Key Concepts
externalities
public goods
social capital
institutional trust
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies rebuild trust in collective action?
- What policies can reduce reliance on costly private substitutes?
A Different Perspective
Private solutions cannot fully replace public outcomes, especially when trust is low.
