Publications

Failure! An Introduction to Public Choice

Many people today envisage a future where we again become more positive towards public intervention in the economy. The financial crisis has contributed to this notion. However, problems were plentiful also before the latest financial crisis, and the perception has been that they could be resolved as long as politicians were willing to act and spend money on the problems.

This pamphlet challenges the notion that governments can solve the problems that markets have not. By use of public choice theory, the authors show how and why governments often fail to prevent or correct for market failures – and why public intervention may in fact exacerbate the problems.

Does it Matter?

Does it matter who governs? The parties in parliament believe so. This report analyzes the question by examining whether the public spending have differed significantly under socialist, and non-socialist governments the last couple of decades.

Civita Annual Report 2008/2009

June 2009 marks the fifth year of Civita’s existence. The Think Tank was established in 2004 as the first in Norway. This report is published to increase the knowledge of and strengthen the interest of Civita’s work.

Liberalism

Liberalism brings together some of the most important philosophical texts on political freedom from John Locke to Amartya Sen. The anthology opens up for a greater reception in Norway of the thinkers who have laid the most important ground work for modern liberal democracy, and for the thinkers who are furthering the discussion today.

Migration and Freedom

Migration is a positive force for Norway and many other countries in the world. Yet, we most often discuss the challenges and negative impacts of immigration. We desire a better debate on these questions because we believe that migration as an issue will remain high on the political agenda.

Financial Crisis: Market Failure or Government Failure?

This Civita-report engages with some important factors that contributed to the financial crisis. We find that governments, primarily in the U.S., have made crucial errors, especially on monetary policy, government intervention in housing credit markets, and through other unfortunate regulations of the financial sector.

When Mankind Created the World

The prizewinning swedish author and historian, Johan Norberg, has written the story on creativity, entrepreneurship and freedom. About why mankind has created more in 200 years than in the 200 000 years before, thanks to the individuals, institutions and liberties that are most controversial in the modern debate.

Behind Closed Doors? Or More Transparency?

On democratic norms for political recruitment. The theses introduced in this pamphlet goes to the core of the Norwegian democracy. What do the nomination processes mean for the rule of and by the people? Which considerations must be weighed against each other in the possible restructuring and reform of political nominations? How can we stimulate increased political participation and influence?

Big Brother Kills! On Totalitarianism

Civita has followed up on and published this work of historian Bård Larsen. It has become a review of parts of the massive litterature on totalitarian regimes and movements, in an available and easy format for young people.

Civita 2007/08

Annual report 2007/08.

Three Essays on Conservatism

This pamphlet contains three essays on Conservatism. together they present the conservative ideas, central thinkers and schools of thought, and not least conservatism's historical role.

If Climate Was First Priority

This pamphlet presents several possible measures which may benefit the environment, but which is also good for public financing, social economics and welfare. These include, among others, abolition of tax-free arrangements, urbanization, reduction of farm subsidies, and market based solutions for prizing transportation and queues.

Competition Policy Under a Red-Green Government

Why is competition policy important, and what does the government want with it? What roles do changing government administrations play? What interests become evident with them? Is the area of competition policy too narrowly defined? These are questions which Nils Ola Widme looks at in this analysis of competition policy over the last few years.

Three Essays on Liberalism

This pamphlet contains three essays on liberalism. Altogether, they present the liberal tradition, central thinkers and schools of thought, and not least the historical role of liberalism.

Moraldriving circuits - State, Society and Civil Engagement

This book discusses what happens with Norwegian civil traditions when faced with modernity and a social democratic welfare regime.

Civita 2006/07

Annual report 2006/07.

The political youth parties about corporate social responsibility

Does the business and industry have social responsibility? In this pamphlet the political youth parties give their views on that particular question.

Region in search of assignments

In this report professor Rattsø and Sørensen presents their views on the Norwegian governments suggestion to let regions elected by the people relieve todays county municipality.

The 2007 International Property Rights Index (IPRI)

The 2007 International Property Rights Index (IPRI) is the first international comparative study that measures the significance of both physical and intellectual property rights and their protection for economic well-being.

The fight for knowledge promotion

Written by Helge Ole Bergesen and published by think tank Civita in cooperation with publisher Universitetsforlaget.

Agricultural policy - time to reform

In this report Aanesland and Holm presents the agricultural policy and the challenges in a globalized economy.

Great plans - sad results

The overadministrated Norway

Globalisation and democracy

Rhetoric and realities

Possibilities for everyone

Should everyone be allowed to try?

In this CIVITA report Olsen discuss the question about the quality of higher education in Norway. Do we demand enough of the students? What can we learn of experiences abroad, and should everyone have the right to higher education?

I, pencil

A famous essay on the importance of free economy.

From charity to dignity? Microcredit - bank for the poor

How do we reach the goals of reduced poverty in the world? Can the market and credit institutions be efficient means? "From charity to dignity?" addresses these questions and shows what efficient means microcredit - small loans - is in order to reach UN's goal of dividing the world's poverty in half by the year 2015.

The Free Society

Bakke analyses in his report four different areas where control is practiced. He also discusses in what degree the political control limits the personal freedom, and in what degree this control has led to the fact that the goals that were the grounds for it, has been accomplished.

Equal rights are always right!

The journalist Maria Ludvigsson analyses in her report the arguments for employment on quota basis.

Administration behind closed doors

Erlandsen's report discusses The Freedom of Information Act in Norway and the public administration's struggle towards greater openness.

School choice - a real choice

Lislands report enlighten in what degree the School Choice law and administration practice attend to the motives of the new School Choice Act.

Commanding Heights DVD

Commanding Heights reunites the team that created The Prize - Daniel Yergin and award-winning produces William Cran - and is the first in-depth documentary to tell the inside story of our new global economy and what it means for individuals around the world.

Pension reform for the next generation

In this report there is pointed out that the job to secure pension for future generations is only half done. The report presents three models for a sustainable pension system that include private pension saving.

China towards a Western democracy?

This analysis of whether China is heading towards a western democracy is the first CIVITA report in a series on current issues we in CIVITA plan to publish. In addition to books and seminars / conferences, we will make a point of presenting shorter reports, which will not be as extensive as a book; still they will hold a professional quality suitable to encourage new debate.

Hayek: His Contribution to the Economic and Political Thought of Our Time

"It's my intellectual duty to present the main content of Hayek's teachings without the use of scary academic terminology, so that a far larger audience will be able to understand the works of Hayek, and not only his name", writes author Eamonn Butler in the introduction to this book comprising theories and arguments from more than 25 books.

Europe’s Quiet Revolution -Eastern Europe After the Fall of the Wall

A quiet revolution is taking place in front of our eyes and in the middle of Europe: Eight new Central- and Eastern European countries joined the EU in 2004, and seven new countries joined NATO. Most of these countries are states being shaped a new by history, with dramatic changes of government, economy, judicial system and daily life. 100 million people are affected and have to learn to think in a marked that earlier didn’t exist.

Freedom – The Conversation Continues

Which challenges do we face when we are to defend the classic reasons for freedom in a whole new era? What should the limitations of freedom be? Do we have to reformulate the premises for a debate on personal freedom after 9/11? What has affirmative action to do with freedom? Is it correct that “flexible capitalism” brutalizes work life, and that employers’ need for flexibility is in opposition to the employees’ need for more freedom? Is the welfare state a threat to individual freedom? Have we got an immigration policy that considers the individual’s right to seek a better life for oneself and one’s closest?

Open World: Defending Globalization

Globalization is giving us more freedom, increasing the cultural diversity each and every one of us meet, and contributing to increased prosperity for the large majority. Never before have so many people been lifted from poverty as in the age of globalization. The power of the national states is perhaps decreasing, but it’s mainly the citizens and consumers who are empowered, not the multi-national companies.