Data Centers and the Open Access Order: Impersonal Regulation vs. Collective Decision
AndyMasley · x · 2026-08-26
Alex Tabarrok argues that the current discourse on datacenters is flawed because it treats them as a matter of collective decision-making. Citing the framework of 'Violence and Social Orders' by North, Wallis, and Weingast, the post distinguishes between 'limited access orders' and 'open access orders'.
Key points:
- Impersonal Regulation: A free society relies on impersonal rules. If one follows standard laws for land, electricity, and labor, the specific usage should not be subject to official discretion.
- Open Access: Economic organization should be open to anyone meeting minimal criteria, not controlled by a privileged coalition.
- Against Special Permits: Imposing extra hurdles for datacenters based on their purpose represents a regression to the 'natural state' and harms economic liberty.
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