Public Finance and Ideology How should a government function in economic sphere Organic view-community stressed above individual Goals of society set by the state Mechanistic view- government is a contrivance created by individuals to better achieve their individual goals Individual, not group, is at center stage This is the viewpoint taken in the textbook3 Public Finance and Ideology • How should a government function in economic sphere? • Organic view – community stressed above individual. Goals of society set by the state. • Mechanistic view – government is a contrivance created by individuals to better achieve their individual goals. Individual, not group, is at center stage. – This is the viewpoint taken in the textbook