Bolstering Sovereignty Of Public Goods

The domain of the state with which provision of national public goods is served is a sovereign. The virtues of public goods are that it does not exclude anyone from its benefits. It is non-negotiable, non-diminishable and, therefore, does not fall under competitive market process like other goods where incentive for profits drives actors. The components of public goods include national security, law and order, education, health, culture, infrastructures and nature (clean air, fresh water, sanitation, etc.). These components are interrelated and absence of any element affects the quality of the other. Sovereignty of public goods is the common concern of all Nepalis. But this sovereignty has been impaired by the neo-liberal globalisation policies, growth of free riders and special interest groups. They have weakened the hierarchy, discipline and social roles of the state and diluted national priorities. The locus of democracy embedded in national self-determination and management of regional and global common requires coherence and coordination so that people do not have to bear the costs of scarcity and uncertainty.