Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
In order to understand government, you need to understand bureaucracy. Prof. Michael Munger explains that bureaucracy IS government; there’s no other way for a government function. So understanding the characteristics of bureaucracies is important. For example, unlike the private sector, bureaucracies can’t use profits as an indicator of their effectiveness. And citizens can’t take their business elsewhere if they’re unhappy with how a bureaucracy performs. Public choice theory offers insights about the practical limits of bureaucracy and of government. Dr. Michael Munger is a Professor of Political Science at Duke University, and Director of the PPE Certificate Program.
This video is part of a series exploring major concepts in public choice theory. It is also part of a larger series about foundational topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) courses. Videos in the series feature six professors who teach in university PPE programs.
Watch the rest of the videos in the Public Choice Theory playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNeQlRoOOIMm_dIM69avYjLR4MACOJN_D
Watch all 23 videos in the PPE series here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNeQlRoOOIMnPu92i-V0alFYHuGTkexfP
For additional PPE curriculum resources, including suggestions for further readings on each topic, visit our website: theihs.org/ppe
Subscribe to our channel to see upcoming videos: youtube.com/c/TheIHSorg?sub_confirmation=1
The Institute for Humane Studies supports and partners with professors to promote the teaching and research of classical liberal ideas and to advance higher education’s core purpose of intellectual discovery and human progress.
About Us: theihs.org/who-we-are
Twitter: twitter.com/theihs?lang=en
Facebook: facebook.com/InstituteforHumaneStudies
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/instituteforhumanestudies
Instagram: instagram.com/theihs
In order to understand government, you need to understand bureaucracy. Prof. Michael Munger explains that bureaucracy IS government; there’s no other way for a government function. So understanding the characteristics of bureaucracies is important. For example, unlike the private sector, bureaucracies can’t use profits as an indicator of their effectiveness. And citizens can’t take their business elsewhere if they’re unhappy with how a bureaucracy performs. Public choice theory offers insights about the practical limits of bureaucracy and of government. Dr. Michael Munger is a Professor of Political Science at Duke University, and Director of the PPE Certificate Program.
This video is part of a series exploring major concepts in public choice theory. It is also part of a larger series about foundational topics in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) courses. Videos in the series feature six professors who teach in university PPE programs.
Watch the rest of the videos in the Public Choice Theory playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNeQlRoOOIMm_dIM69avYjLR4MACOJN_D
Watch all 23 videos in the PPE series here: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNeQlRoOOIMnPu92i-V0alFYHuGTkexfP
For additional PPE curriculum resources, including suggestions for further readings on each topic, visit our website: theihs.org/ppe
Subscribe to our channel to see upcoming videos: youtube.com/c/TheIHSorg?sub_confirmation=1
The Institute for Humane Studies supports and partners with professors to promote the teaching and research of classical liberal ideas and to advance higher education’s core purpose of intellectual discovery and human progress.
About Us: theihs.org/who-we-are
Twitter: twitter.com/theihs?lang=en
Facebook: facebook.com/InstituteforHumaneStudies
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/instituteforhumanestudies
Instagram: instagram.com/theihs
