From:     Allan H. Meltzer

Carnegie Mellon University, and American Enterprise Institute

Title:     To Jim at Eighty

Jim Buchanan challenged welfare analysis
At the time in a state of paralysis.
His work had tremendous impact,
It showed how governments react,
That officials, bureaucrats, and others
Do not treat all men as brothers.

It was not as Samuelson presumed.
And most of us assumed,
That governments sought to achieve--
This is really hard to believe--
Only those outcomes that are best,
For each one of us and all the rest.

Political economy has thrived,
As a sub-discipline, it has now arrived.
On his eightieth birthday, we salute
And gladly offer this tribute.
To Jim who took the lead
In making Public Choice succeed.