Benefit state

The concept of power state ( productive state ) has been prepared by Economic and political scientist James M. Buchanan introduced as a concept (as a counterpoint to the classic legal state protective state ) to act. Buchanan derives the legal protection state from Thomas Hobbes ' state philosophy . This - taken alone - could, according to Buchanan, lead to a disadvantage for the less favored in the state (e.g. the poor). The performance state has the task of producing public goods and guaranteeing elementary social security - for example with the help of social institutions.

According to Buchanan, the " natural state- related power inequality" based on Hobbes found its expression in the social system even after the constitution was introduced, which is a further reason, the benefit state as compensation or as a reward or even "tolerance bonus" for the consent of the poor to the constitution a strict exchange paradigm.

Criticism of the concept is seen, among other things, at the type of introduction of the benefit state, which is not based on the actual (concrete) consent of the poor, but only accepted abstractly.