Implementing Generality While Reducing the Risk for Fiscal Explosion

The generality principle, advocated by Buchanan and Congleton (1998), requires that political decisions treat all citizens equally qua citizens. The effects of implementing such a constitutional rule on lobbying, public expenditures, economic efficiency, and disposable incomes are explored. The main contribution is to propose a way of mitigating potentially negative effects not discussed by Buchanan and Congleton, especially the risk for ”fiscal explosion.” It is suggested that if generality is augmented with a rule stating that public expenditures as a share of GDP are not to rise, this will probably render generality more attractive than non-generality for most citizens