The fifth episode of the five-part podcast series on the book, Public Choice – A Primer by Dr Eamonn Butler, explores how constitutions function as the foundational rules that shape governance and public accountability. It examines why societies need constitutions beyond symbolism, and how constitutional frameworks influence political decision-making and limit government excesses.

Drawing from the chapters The Role of Constitutions and Achievements and Issues, the episode unpacks the economic logic of constitutional rules, the idea of a fiscal constitution, the role of federalism, and the challenges of ensuring accountability within democratic systems.

This podcast series aims to make the ideas of public choice theory more accessible to a wider audience.

Speaker: Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Economics, St. Albert's College ( Autonomous), Ernakulam

Moderator: Sreelakshmi Harilal, Associate – Research & Projects, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala

Tune in for an insightful conversation on the economic and political rationale behind governments, the inherent costs and trade-offs in collective decision-making, and how voter behaviour and political incentives shape policy outcomes.