Conclusion

State governments are often viewed by modern-day classical liberals as the appropriate level of government for much of the public policy that exists today. Through competition between state governments, citizens are more likely to obtain the policies they desire at the tax rate they desire. Modern-day classical liberals extend this metaphor to the marketplace, arguing that it is likely that state governments will be unable to provide many of the public policies that citizens may desire at a given price. The classical liberal and modern liberal normative perspectives are an important part of determining the direction of public policy. This chapter also explores the growing role of technology in the public policy process.