Description
Increasingly, Americans are choosing to "opt out" of publicly-provided goods and services. Many of those who can afford to do so are exiting the public school system in favor of private schools, are electing to live in gated and privately-guarded communities, and are shunning public spaces in favor of private recreational facilities. This project examines the social and cultural forces underlying such shifts to private alternatives, as well as the impact on the public goods left behind--the public schools, the city neighborhoods, and the local parks. It begins by examining the increasing use of privately-funded alternatives to public goods, both nationwide and within Virginia. After discussing the causes for this trend, it explores the implications of opting out--for those who select the private alternative, for those who continue to make use of the public version of the good in question, and for the larger communities of which both groups are members. In doing so, it considers the possibility that those who have chosen a private alternative may nevertheless continue to have a stake in the public good they have elected not to use. The analysis incorporates insights from economics, sociology, and political philosophy, and makes use of concrete examples drawn from central Virginia. Finally, it considers the appropriate role of legal and policy tools in responding to these shifts, such as considering the advantages and disadvantages of mechanisms such as vouchers designed to making opting out easier.
