Rahn Curve

It happened one summer
It happened one time
It happened forever
For a short time
--The Motels

Economist Richard Rahn developed what has become known as the 'Rahn Curve' that sketches a small but optimum size of government that maximizes economic prosperity.

This merely portrays the general minarchist view that a small amount of formal government is necessary for effective social functioning.

The question is whether such a theoretical state, that of a limited government that stays limited, is realistically possible. Our founding ancestors were optimistic.

Unfortunately, a growing body of empirical evidence suggests that their optimism may have been misplaced.