西方经济学家论政府经济职能:历史沿革与启示

Western Economists' Concept on the Economic Functions of Government:History and Enlightenment

从历史的角度看,无论是理论上还是实践上,政府经济职能的转换,主要取决于经济发展的需要。古典学派认为自由经济符合"自然秩序",存在"看不见的手";李斯特比喻政府就像"植树者",会在很短的时间营造森林;福利经济学派主张政府只有积极干预经济,才能解决社会福利问题;凯恩斯要求扩张政府职能;新自由主义则要求收缩政府职能,减少政府干预;新制度学派认为,尽管存在"市场失灵",但政府的过度干预会造成"政府失灵",所以,要在市场和政府之间保持平衡。以上观点对中国在新的历史时期有效实现政府职能的转变具有重要的启示意义。

Historically speaking, economic development determines the transformation of government functions in both theory and practice. The classical scholars argue that free economy is in line with the ＂natural order＂ in which there was an ＂invisible hand＂; List says that the government serves as a ＂planter＂ which creates a forest in a very short period of time. Welfare Economics called for government＇s interference in economy to solve social welfare issues; Neo- classical scholars oppose government＇s intervention; Keynesianism demands for expansion of government functions while neo- liberalism requires government to contract functions; Neo- institutional economists believe that there should be a balance between government and the market because excessive government intervention would result in ＂government failure＂ despite existence of ＂market failure＂. Viewpoints above are of great significance to effective transformation of government functions at the new historical stage of China.