论政治制度的演进性与建构性——以哈耶克和布坎南关于制度设计的辩难为核心

Evolution and Construction of Political System——Based on the debate over system design between Hayek and Buchanan

制度建设越来越引起人们的关注,然而制度设计是否可能呢?在西方理论界,哈耶克和布坎南对这个问题进行了长期的辩难。哈耶克认为制度的演进是一种竞争和试错的过程,所以制度是自发生成的,而布坎南则认为人类必须通过制度设计来选择一个可能"较好"的规则。人类进行制度设计是可能的,但制度变迁的路径依赖其最初始的设计,这个结论或许能为当前我国的制度建设奠定一个坚实的理论基础。

System construction has been of a great concern to many people. Is system design possible？ Debate about it between Hayek and Buchanan has been going on for a long time in the western theoretical world. Hayek argues that system evolution is a process filled with competition, trial and error, so systems can be established spontaneously. However, Buchanan holds the view that man can choose a ＂ better＂ rule by means of system design. This paper states that system design is possible, but approach to system change depends on its primary design, which may lay a solid theoretical foundation for the system construction in China.