Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Postwar Reconstruction: Some Insights from Public Choice and Institutional Economics

  • Published:
Constitutional Political Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A successful reconstruction is characterized by a widespread coordination problem, combined with potential pockets of conflict. We analyze the array of relationships that take place in the reconstruction process – political, economic and social – by considering under what circumstances they are situations of conflict or coordination. Historical attempts at reconstruction provide further understanding of how to achieve success.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • P. J. Bailey (1996) Postwar Japan: 1945 to Present Blackwell Publishers Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • L Bernstein (1992) ArticleTitle“Opting Out of the Legal System: Extralegal Contracting Relations in the Diamond Industry” Journal of Legal Studies 21 138–43

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Boehling (1996) A Question of Priorities: Democratic Reform and Economic Recovery in Postwar Germany Berghahn Books Rhode Island

    Google Scholar 

  • Boettke, P. (2001) “Why Culture Matters: Economics, Politics and the Imprint of History.” In: Boettke, P. (ed.) Calculation and Coordination, pp. 248–65. New York: Routledge.

  • Carbonnier, G. (1995) “Conflict, Postwar Rebuilding and the Economy: A Critical Review of the Literature.” Occasional Paper No. 2, War Torn Societies Project, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

  • C. Coyne (2004) “The Importance of Common Knowledge in Postwar Reconstruction. Workshop in Political Theory and Policy Analysis Indiana University Bloomington, IN”

    Google Scholar 

  • E Diener (1984) ArticleTitle“Subjective Well-Being” Psychological Bulletin 95 542–75 Occurrence Handle10.1037//0033-2909.95.3.542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J. Dobbins J. McGinn K Crane SG Jones R Lal A Rathmell R Swanger A Timilsina (2003) America’s Role in Nation Building: From Germany to Iraq RAND Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Fagan, P. W. (1995) “After the Conflict: A Review of Selected Sources on Rebuilding War-Torn Societies”. Occasional Paper No. 1, War Torn Societies Project, United Nations Research Institute for Social Development.

  • R. A. Fearey (1950) The Occupation of Japan, Second Phase: 1948–50 The MacMillan Company New York

    Google Scholar 

  • E. FitzGerald F. Stewart (1997) ArticleTitle“War, Economy and Society: Editor’s Introduction” Oxford Development Studies Special Issues 25 IssueID1 5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • RH Frank (1989) ArticleTitle“Frames of Reference and the Quality of Life” American Economic Review 79 80–85

    Google Scholar 

  • RH Frank (1997) ArticleTitle“The Frame of Reference as a Public Good” The Economic Journal 107 1832–47

    Google Scholar 

  • F. Fukuyama (1996) Trust Simon & Schuster Inc New York

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Hardin (1999) Liberalism Constitutionalism and Democracy. Oxford: Oxford University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Inoue (1991) MacArthur’s Japanese Constitution: A Linguistic and Cultural Study of Its Making The University of Chicago Press Chicago

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Kumar (Eds) (1997) Rebuilding Societies After War Lynne Rienner Publishers Colorado

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Lake S.H. Harrison (Eds) (1990) After the Wars: Reconstruction in Afghanistan Indochina Central America, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • D. K. Lewis (1974) Convention: A Philosophical Study Harvard University Press Massachusetts

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Makiya (1989) Republic of Fear: The Inside Story of Saddam’s Iraq Pantheon Books New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, B. (1989) “British Democratisation Policy in Germany.” In: Turner, I. D. (ed.) Reconstruction in Post-War Germany, pp. 189–214. New York: St Martin’s Press.

  • M Paldam (2000) ArticleTitle“Social Capital: One or Many?–Definition and Measurement” Journal of Economic Survey 14 629–653

    Google Scholar 

  • M Paldam GT Svendsen (2001) ArticleTitle“Missing Social Capital and the Transition in Eastern Europe” Journal of Institutional Innovations 5 21–34

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Putman (2001) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community Simon & Schuster Inc New York

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Putman R. Leonardi R. Y. Nanetti (1994) Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy Princeton University Press Princeton, NJ

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Putman M.F Lewis D Cohen (2003) Better Together: Restoring the American Community Simon & Schuster Inc New York

    Google Scholar 

  • T. C. Schelling (1960) The Strategy of Conflict Oxford University Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • J. C. Scott (1998) Seeing Like a State Yale University Press New Haven

    Google Scholar 

  • F Stewart FP Humphreys N Lee (1997) ArticleTitle“Civil Conflict in Developing Countries Over the Last Quarter Century: An Empirical Overview of Economic and Social Consequences” Oxford Development Studies 25 IssueID1 11–41

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tyler Cowen.

Additional information

JEL Classification: N40, O1, P11, Z13.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cowen, T., Coyne, C.J. Postwar Reconstruction: Some Insights from Public Choice and Institutional Economics. Constit Polit Econ 16, 31–48 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-005-5851-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10602-005-5851-1

Keywords

Navigation