SOCIAL CONTRACT, PUBLIC CHOICE AND FISCAL REPERCUSSIONS IN THE ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY
Abstract
In the present essay, by utilizing game theory we present a model of choice by actors to explain how change comes about. Then by using ancient and modern sources of literature, we analyze the theory of the social contract as a historical phenomenon that first appeared during the classical period of Athens (510-323 BC.). Then we utilize our findings to explain how public choice was practiced under a direct democracy regime in ancient Athens, by focusing on two historical cases: Eubulus and Lycurgus fiscal policy programs in the second half of the 4th century. We found that these policies can be explained as an implementation of a social contract, through which the Athenian citizens were taking decisions based on rational choice according to a wider economic prospective.
References
[1] Abrahamson, E. and Fombrum, C.J. 1992. Forging the Iron Cage: Interorganisational networks and the production of macro-culture. Journal of Management Studies 29: 175-194.
[2] Abrahamson, E. and Fombrum, C.J. 1994. Macrocultures: Determinants and consequences,” Academy of Management Review 19(4): 728 - 755.
[3] Allen, D.S. 2010. Why Plato wrote. Blackwell Publishers.
[4] Arvanitides, P. and Kyriazis, N. 2012. Public choice, economy and war in classical Athens. Paper presented at the 16th Annual International Conference on Economics and Security, June 21-22, Cairo, Egypt.
[5] Bowles, S. and Gintis, H. 1986. Democracy and capitalism: Property community and the contradiction of modern social thought. Basic Books.
[6] Buchanan, J. and Tullock, G. 2004. The calculus of consent: Logical foundations of constitutional democracy. University of Michigan Press.
[7] Burke, E.M. 1985. Lycurgus finances. Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 26: 251-264.
[8] Cartledge, P. 1997. Hoplites and heroes: Sparta's contribution to the technique of ancient warfare. The Journal of Hellenic Studies 97: 10-27.
[9] Cartledge, P. 1987. Agesilaos and the crisis of Sparta. Gerald Duckworth and Company.
[10] Cirillo, R. 1979. The economics of Vilfredo Pareto. Frank Cass and Company Limited.
[11] De Romilly, J. 1992. Pourquoi la Grèce ? Editions de Fallois.
[12] Farenga, V. 2006. Citizen and self in Ancient Greece: Individuals performing justice and the law. Cambridge University Press.
[13] Fisher, N. 1998. Gymnasia and the democratic values of leisure. In P. Cartledge, P. Millett, and S. von Reden (Eds.), Kosmos: Essays in order, conflict and community in classical Athens (pp. 84-104) Cambridge University Press.
[14] Forrest, W.G. 1994. The emergence of Greek Democracy: The character of Greek politics, 800-400 BC. Papadimas Publications (in Greek).
[15] Fuller, J. F. C. 2008. The Decisive Battles of the western world and their Influence upon history, Poiotita Publications (in Greek).
[16] Gagarin, M. 1997. Antiphon. The speeches. Cambridge University Press.
[17] Green, P. 1998. The Greco-Persian wars. University of California Press.
[18] Halkos, G. and Kyriazis, N. 2010. The Athenian economy in the age of Demosthenes. European Journal of Law and Economics 29: 255–277.
[19] Hansen, M.H. 1999. The Athenian democracy in the age of Demosthenes. Bristol Classical Press.
[20] Hanson, V.D. 2009. The western way of war. University of California Press.
[21] Humphreys, S. 1985. Lycurgus of Butadae: An Athenian aristocrat. In J. W. Eadie and J. Ober (eds.) Essays in Honor of Chester G. Starr: The Craft of the Ancient Historian. University Press of America.
[22] Jones, C., Heterly, J. and Borgatti, S. 1997. A General theory of Network Governance; Exchange conditions and social mechanisms. Academy of Management Review 22(4): 911-945.
[23] Kerferd, G.B. 1981. The sophistic movement. Cambridge University Press.
[24] Κrentz, P. 1985. The Nature of hoplite battle. Classical Antiquity 4(1): 50-61.
[25] Kyriazis, N. and Zouboulakis, M. 2004. Democracy, sea power and institutional change: An economic analysis of the Athenian naval law. European Journal of Law and Economics 17: 117-132.
[26] Kyriazis, N. 2009. Financing the Athenian state: Public choice in the age of Demosthenes. European Journal of Law and Economics 27(2): 109-127.
[27] Kyriazis, N. and Paparrigopoulos, X. 2011. The birth of Democracy: Values in war and politics in Classical Greece. In P. Hermann (ed.), Democracy in the Theory and Action (pp. 277-28) Nova Publishers.
[28] Kyriazis, N. and Karayiannis, A. 2011. Democracy, institutional changes and economic development: The case of ancient Athens. Journal of Economic Assymetries 8(1): 61-93.
[29] Kyriazis, N. 2012. Why ancient Greece? The birth and development of democracy. Psychogios Publications.
[30] Kyriazis, N. and Economou, E.M. 2012. Macroculture, sports and democracy in Classical Greece. Paper presented at the 25th Heilbronn Symposion in Economics and the Social Sciences, June 21-24, in Heilbronn, Germany.
[31] Loomis, W.T. 1988. Wages, welfare costs and inflation in Classical Athens. Michigan University Press.
[32] Marchant, E. C. and Todd, O. J. 1997. Xenophon’s Memorabilia oeconomicus, symposioum-apology. Harvard University Press.
[33] Meade, J. E. 1961. A Neo-Classical theory of economic growth. Unwin University Books.
[34] Μetaxas, T. and Economou, E.M. 2012. Security policy in the European Union and the United States through the issue of their defence expenditures. Global Analysis 3(1): 52-79.
[35] Moulton, C. 1972. Antiphon the sophist, on truth. Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 103: 329-366.
[36] Mulgan, R.G. 1979. Lycophron and Greek Theories of Social Contract. Journal of the History of Ideas 40(1): 121-12.
[37] Nill, N. 1985. Morality and self-interest in Protagoras, Antiphon, and Democritus. E.J. Brill.
[38] North, D. 1978. Structure and performance: The task of economic history. Journal of Economic Literature, 16(3): 963-978.
[39] North, D. 1981. Structure and change in economic history. W.W. Norton and Company.
[40] North, D. 1990. Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press.
[41] Ober, J. 2008. Democracy and knowledge. Innovation and learning in Classical Athens. Princeton University Press.
[42] Papazarkadas, N. 2011. Sacred and public land in ancient Athens. Oxford University Press, Inc.
[43] Pritchard, D. 2011. Costing festivals and war: Spending priorities of the democracy. In H. van Wees, P.J. Rhodes, D.M. Pritchard, P. Fawcett and G. Oliver (eds.) Public Finance in Athens, 594 BC to AD 14. Oxford University Press.
[44] Pomeroy, S. et al. 1999. Ancient Greece: A political, social, and cultural history. Oxford University Press, Inc.
[45] Popper, K.R. 1966. The open society and its enemies. Princeton University Press.
[46] Raauflaub, K., Ober, J., and Wallace, R.W. 2007. Origins of democracy in ancient Greece. University of California Press.
[47] Roisman, J. 2005. The rhetoric of manhood: Masculinity in the attic orators. University of California Press.
[48] Sakellariou, M. 1972. Classical Hellenism. History of the Greek nation. (2). Ekdotiki Athinon. (in Greek).
[49] Solow, R.M. 1970. Growth Theory, Clarendon Press.
[50] Thompson, J.G. 1978. Solon on athletics. Journal of Sport History, 5(1): 23-29
[51] Toynbee, J.A. 1946. A study of history. Oxford University Press and Dell Publishing Co.
[52] Tsatsos, K. 1972. Rhetoric. History of the Greek Nation. (2), Ekdotiki Athinon (in Greek).
[53] Weingast, B.R. 1997. The political foundations of democracy and the rule of law. The American Political Science Review, 91(2): 254-263.
[54] Wilson, N. 2005. Encyclopedia of ancient Greece. Routledge.
[2] Abrahamson, E. and Fombrum, C.J. 1994. Macrocultures: Determinants and consequences,” Academy of Management Review 19(4): 728 - 755.
[3] Allen, D.S. 2010. Why Plato wrote. Blackwell Publishers.
[4] Arvanitides, P. and Kyriazis, N. 2012. Public choice, economy and war in classical Athens. Paper presented at the 16th Annual International Conference on Economics and Security, June 21-22, Cairo, Egypt.
[5] Bowles, S. and Gintis, H. 1986. Democracy and capitalism: Property community and the contradiction of modern social thought. Basic Books.
[6] Buchanan, J. and Tullock, G. 2004. The calculus of consent: Logical foundations of constitutional democracy. University of Michigan Press.
[7] Burke, E.M. 1985. Lycurgus finances. Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies 26: 251-264.
[8] Cartledge, P. 1997. Hoplites and heroes: Sparta's contribution to the technique of ancient warfare. The Journal of Hellenic Studies 97: 10-27.
[9] Cartledge, P. 1987. Agesilaos and the crisis of Sparta. Gerald Duckworth and Company.
[10] Cirillo, R. 1979. The economics of Vilfredo Pareto. Frank Cass and Company Limited.
[11] De Romilly, J. 1992. Pourquoi la Grèce ? Editions de Fallois.
[12] Farenga, V. 2006. Citizen and self in Ancient Greece: Individuals performing justice and the law. Cambridge University Press.
[13] Fisher, N. 1998. Gymnasia and the democratic values of leisure. In P. Cartledge, P. Millett, and S. von Reden (Eds.), Kosmos: Essays in order, conflict and community in classical Athens (pp. 84-104) Cambridge University Press.
[14] Forrest, W.G. 1994. The emergence of Greek Democracy: The character of Greek politics, 800-400 BC. Papadimas Publications (in Greek).
[15] Fuller, J. F. C. 2008. The Decisive Battles of the western world and their Influence upon history, Poiotita Publications (in Greek).
[16] Gagarin, M. 1997. Antiphon. The speeches. Cambridge University Press.
[17] Green, P. 1998. The Greco-Persian wars. University of California Press.
[18] Halkos, G. and Kyriazis, N. 2010. The Athenian economy in the age of Demosthenes. European Journal of Law and Economics 29: 255–277.
[19] Hansen, M.H. 1999. The Athenian democracy in the age of Demosthenes. Bristol Classical Press.
[20] Hanson, V.D. 2009. The western way of war. University of California Press.
[21] Humphreys, S. 1985. Lycurgus of Butadae: An Athenian aristocrat. In J. W. Eadie and J. Ober (eds.) Essays in Honor of Chester G. Starr: The Craft of the Ancient Historian. University Press of America.
[22] Jones, C., Heterly, J. and Borgatti, S. 1997. A General theory of Network Governance; Exchange conditions and social mechanisms. Academy of Management Review 22(4): 911-945.
[23] Kerferd, G.B. 1981. The sophistic movement. Cambridge University Press.
[24] Κrentz, P. 1985. The Nature of hoplite battle. Classical Antiquity 4(1): 50-61.
[25] Kyriazis, N. and Zouboulakis, M. 2004. Democracy, sea power and institutional change: An economic analysis of the Athenian naval law. European Journal of Law and Economics 17: 117-132.
[26] Kyriazis, N. 2009. Financing the Athenian state: Public choice in the age of Demosthenes. European Journal of Law and Economics 27(2): 109-127.
[27] Kyriazis, N. and Paparrigopoulos, X. 2011. The birth of Democracy: Values in war and politics in Classical Greece. In P. Hermann (ed.), Democracy in the Theory and Action (pp. 277-28) Nova Publishers.
[28] Kyriazis, N. and Karayiannis, A. 2011. Democracy, institutional changes and economic development: The case of ancient Athens. Journal of Economic Assymetries 8(1): 61-93.
[29] Kyriazis, N. 2012. Why ancient Greece? The birth and development of democracy. Psychogios Publications.
[30] Kyriazis, N. and Economou, E.M. 2012. Macroculture, sports and democracy in Classical Greece. Paper presented at the 25th Heilbronn Symposion in Economics and the Social Sciences, June 21-24, in Heilbronn, Germany.
[31] Loomis, W.T. 1988. Wages, welfare costs and inflation in Classical Athens. Michigan University Press.
[32] Marchant, E. C. and Todd, O. J. 1997. Xenophon’s Memorabilia oeconomicus, symposioum-apology. Harvard University Press.
[33] Meade, J. E. 1961. A Neo-Classical theory of economic growth. Unwin University Books.
[34] Μetaxas, T. and Economou, E.M. 2012. Security policy in the European Union and the United States through the issue of their defence expenditures. Global Analysis 3(1): 52-79.
[35] Moulton, C. 1972. Antiphon the sophist, on truth. Transactions and Proceedings of the American Philological Association 103: 329-366.
[36] Mulgan, R.G. 1979. Lycophron and Greek Theories of Social Contract. Journal of the History of Ideas 40(1): 121-12.
[37] Nill, N. 1985. Morality and self-interest in Protagoras, Antiphon, and Democritus. E.J. Brill.
[38] North, D. 1978. Structure and performance: The task of economic history. Journal of Economic Literature, 16(3): 963-978.
[39] North, D. 1981. Structure and change in economic history. W.W. Norton and Company.
[40] North, D. 1990. Institutions, institutional change and economic performance. Cambridge University Press.
[41] Ober, J. 2008. Democracy and knowledge. Innovation and learning in Classical Athens. Princeton University Press.
[42] Papazarkadas, N. 2011. Sacred and public land in ancient Athens. Oxford University Press, Inc.
[43] Pritchard, D. 2011. Costing festivals and war: Spending priorities of the democracy. In H. van Wees, P.J. Rhodes, D.M. Pritchard, P. Fawcett and G. Oliver (eds.) Public Finance in Athens, 594 BC to AD 14. Oxford University Press.
[44] Pomeroy, S. et al. 1999. Ancient Greece: A political, social, and cultural history. Oxford University Press, Inc.
[45] Popper, K.R. 1966. The open society and its enemies. Princeton University Press.
[46] Raauflaub, K., Ober, J., and Wallace, R.W. 2007. Origins of democracy in ancient Greece. University of California Press.
[47] Roisman, J. 2005. The rhetoric of manhood: Masculinity in the attic orators. University of California Press.
[48] Sakellariou, M. 1972. Classical Hellenism. History of the Greek nation. (2). Ekdotiki Athinon. (in Greek).
[49] Solow, R.M. 1970. Growth Theory, Clarendon Press.
[50] Thompson, J.G. 1978. Solon on athletics. Journal of Sport History, 5(1): 23-29
[51] Toynbee, J.A. 1946. A study of history. Oxford University Press and Dell Publishing Co.
[52] Tsatsos, K. 1972. Rhetoric. History of the Greek Nation. (2), Ekdotiki Athinon (in Greek).
[53] Weingast, B.R. 1997. The political foundations of democracy and the rule of law. The American Political Science Review, 91(2): 254-263.
[54] Wilson, N. 2005. Encyclopedia of ancient Greece. Routledge.
Published
2013-06-30
How to Cite
KYRIAZIS, Nicholas; ECONOMOU, Emmanouil Marios L..
SOCIAL CONTRACT, PUBLIC CHOICE AND FISCAL REPERCUSSIONS IN THE ATHENIAN DEMOCRACY.
Theoretical and Practical Research in Economic Fields, [S.l.], v. 4, n. 1, p. 61-76, june 2013.
ISSN 2068-7710.
Available at: <https://journals.aserspublishing.eu/tpref/article/view/1176>. Date accessed: 03 july 2024.
Section
Articles
Non-Exclusive License under Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC BY 4.0):
This ‘Article’ is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which lets others distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon this article, even commercially, as long as they credit this article for the original creation. ASERS Publishing will be acknowledged as the first publisher of the Article and a link to the appropriate bibliographic citation (authors, article title, volume issue, page numbers, DOI, and the link to the Published Article on ASERS Publishing’ Platform) must be maintained.