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Louis Theroux - Crime and Economics in Action
9th December 2008
The Louis Theroux documentary on law and disorder in Johannesberg is a fantastic documentary to demonstrate just a few economic concepts to students as a christmas treat.
Before the lesson lead a discussion - ‘to what extent is policing a public good?’
Then another discussion leading from,‘to what extent do you think policing should be a public good, i.e. provided by governments?’
Then introduce or perhaps revise the concept of government failure and how governments may fail to provide policing to a desired quantity.
The programme demonstrates how there may be a demand for private police agencies run by the free market in South Africa, because the government fails to provide adequate policing to a desired quantity.
Other points for discussion included in the programme may include; income inequality, the costs of unemployment, external costs associated with slum housing. Also note other government failures the S.A. government are guilty of e.g. failure of information provision for AIDS HIV Virus.
A discussion on the paternal role of governments may also be considered.
The show also raises all sorts of other ethical debates which Louis questions. Try to avoid getting bogged down in these those, keep it to economics!
Marcus
Geoff Riley
Geoff Riley FRSA has been teaching Economics for over thirty years. He has over twenty years experience as Head of Economics at leading schools. He writes extensively and is a contributor and presenter on CPD conferences in the UK and overseas.