Subasta Bidspirit | TINBERGEN JAN: (1903-1994)

TINBERGEN JAN: (1903-1994) - TINBERGEN JAN:  (1903-1994) Dutch Economist, winner of the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, 1969. Autograph Manuscript Signed, Jan Tinbergen , nine pages, 4to, n.p., n.d. (c.1979). The manuscript, with a few corrections, is of an essay entitled To What Extent Should the Economy be Controlled Through an Expansion of the Functions of the State in Western Countries? and comprises five sections, stating, in part, ‘Our subject can perhaps best be dealt with by starting with the oversimplified model of the economy used by the old European liberalists. They used to suggest that the free forces of society should be left to themselves. They maintained that a maximum of social welfare will be attained if every individual is striving for maximum personal welfare…..a number of tasks have not been left to individuals, but put into the hands of public authorities…..Some well-known examples are that law and order should be maintained by the sheriff; that private armies are not the solution of the security problem; that a system of competing banks entitled to issue notes does not provide us with the best money, but rather one central bank (system)……It is interesting that the protection of share holders was organised better and earlier in the USA than elsewhere (Securities Exchange Commission) and unveiled cases of bribery in Europe……A few new public tasks are the immediate sequel of one of the most visible technological developments: the mass production of the motor car. It has forced upon us the traffic lights, even to cities which, like Rotterdam, initially refused, as a matter of principle, to introduce them! Similarly the motor car has introduced into the country adoring freedom most of all nations, the United States, speed limits and fines to offenders, quite a bit stiffer than in my country. Indeed it is striking that once the American public has been convinced that certain activities must be regulated they accept a rigorous regulation. What about oil prices? Similar developments are under way concerning pollution of the environment…..So here a complex of regulations is quickly growing also and the criteria for the clean car are rigorous……Under the umbrella of this new legislation the production of various types of anti-pollution equipment will become profitable and hence contribute to new employment opportunities which we badly need…..In addition to the tasks discussed I see two broad areas inside nations which may require public activity in the near future, and one broad area between nations. Inside the nations we must state that so far inflation has not been successfully brought under control……The Dutch government commands two instruments to affect the incomes of two main groups showing high incomes, namely the upper groups of salary earners (both in public administration and in private corporations) and the professions. Higher salaries not subject to collective bargaining can be fixed by the Minister of Social Affairs. Fees of free professions fall under price control and are under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Economic Affairs……Another internal problem our nations are facing is the cultural degeneration our societies are experiencing. Although not an economic problem it is assuming an intensity serious enough to devote some attention to it in this essay: also the economy is suffering from its consequences…….Some of the economically relevant attitudes affected by the cultural crisis are lack of motivation to carry out tasks accepted by contract, fraud and vandalism……It is commonplace to stress the intensified interdependence of nations as a consequence of a series of recent developments. Both food and raw materials have to travel over longer distances than formerly, the former because of population increases around Asia, the latter because of the exhaustion of mineral deposits in developed countries……The increasing income gap constitutes a threat to political stability and a challenge to mankind’s managerial capabilities. The time has come where we must – whether we like it or not – consciously manage the operation of our world society……So far I only dealt with new tasks of the state. But isn’t there already more than enough state activity? Yes, there is. There is over-bureaucratization by states, by other public bodies and by quite a few big private bodies…..Farming out is one of the answers. An interesting recent example in a government machine run largely by social democrats is the GTZ……a state corporation which deals with all bilateral development cooperation of the Federal German Republic’s government…..Unnecessarily complicated schemes also abound……It is natural that these things happen, but then, after some time there should be the obligation of reconsidering the whole scheme. Particular attention should be given to the avoidance of irrelevant concepts’.