Nineteenth-century experts and their expertise: Essays in constitutional political economy (Jeremy Bentham, Jean Gustave Courcelle-Seneuil)

In this dissertation we offer an extension of the rational choice paradigm to the work of economic agents qua experts within the framework of the tradition of worst-case thinking in political economy. This analytical apparatus will be applied, in a series of essays, to historical narratives, in particular to the work of two 19th century foreign experts: Jeremy Bentham and Jean Gustave Courcelle-Seneuil.; In the first paper we examine Jeremy Bentham's interest in the transfer of institutions and argue that in his proposals on codification we are presented with a clear portrayal of the work of an expert; in particular, of an expert in codification. Our reading of these proposals, as well as the history of Bentham's determination to secure the implementation of his codification designs, further suggests that the work of experts can be understood within the context of a rational choice framework.; In the second essay we carefully examine the specific views that Jeremy Bentham held on the subject of the transfer of institutions. In this respect, we argue that Bentham visualized his institutional designs as a starting point, not as a one-size-fits-all model as it has sometimes been argued, and that he was a much more careful scholar than what is commonly believed. Yet we also contend that Bentham still falls short in terms of not really recognizing all the worst-case implications of his system and designing the appropriate securities so as to avoid them.; In the final essay we examine the problem of selecting a foreign expert when an advice-seeker has imperfect information regarding the field in which he wants to acquire expertise. In the context of our view of experts as rational choice agents, such a problem may be quite important. And this was the problem faced in 19th century Chile, when the French economist Jean Gustave Courcelle-Seneuil was hired as professor of political economy and economic advisor to the government.