A Review of Robert Sugden’s Community of Advantage

Abstract

In his book, The Community of Advantage: A Behavioural Economist’s Defence of the Market, Robert Sugden says that people should be left alone to do what they want. We interpret his reasons for saying so and try to unify them. The unification uses simple economic models. When we fail to unify, we explain why. Open problems emerge. If Sugden’s passion for his subject won’t motivate the reader to pursue these problems, what will? (JEL C71, C72, D60, D71, D72, I31)