From: Sachin Patil
Sent: Friday, December 04, 2020 12:17 AM
To: Walter Block <[email protected]>
Subject: Man, Economy & State
Dear Sir,
I’ve read “Man, Economy & State” twice now. I have understood some concepts & have not understood some. I have no background of Economics or Finance. I will be reading “Human Action” next. Are there any classroom lectures explaining in details MES & Human Action? I have heard Human Action podcast but it’s not explaining the books in details. Kindly let me know if there’s any.
If water is privatised there are chances of over extracting water from ground by borewell. Because cost of taking water in remote areas will be higher than extracting water from ground. In India’s Punjab state due to rampant extraction of water from tubewells (aided by wrong policies of Government) there’s danger of Punjab’s fertile land getting converted into desert within a period of 25 years of so. Will privatisation of water ensure there’s no rampant extraction of ground water? Awaiting hearing from you.
Kind Regards
Sachin
Dear Sachin:
Please tell me how old you are and your formal education.
Bob Murphy is our “Mr. Study Guide”:
Yes, “If water is privatised there are chances of” all sorts of bad things, many more than the few you mention.
Joke: the economist was asked: “How is your wife?” Came the answer: “Compared to what?”
I answer in like manner re water: compared to what? To govt ownership? To non ownership and the tragedy of the commons? I’ll take privatization every time.
Here is my book on that issue:
Block, Walter E. and Peter Lothian Nelson. 2015. Water Capitalism: The Case for Privatizing Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, and Aquifers. New York City, N.Y.: Lexington Books, Rowman and Littlefield; https://store.mises.org/Water-Capitalism-The-Case-for-Privatizing-Oceans-Rivers-Lakes-and-Aquifers-P11051.aspx;
Best regards,
Walter
8:32 am on April 18, 2021
