Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by Lily Connel
Small governments are the best kind of government. They’re cheap, and they don’t waste taxpayers’ money as big governments do. The perfect size for a government is small. However, Small governments are not as efficient as large ones at solving complex problems. While the spirit of the small government is one of commitment to personal freedom and responsibility, this cannot be achieved without the means to ensure that everyone has the same rights and access to services.
If you’re looking for a short article on the pros and cons of small government, then this is the right article for you. We have covered all the major topics that small-government advocates and critics are talking about. So, let’s dive right into it and find out the pros and cons of a small government. Small government means that the government has lesser power to control the things in the country. It doesn’t mean that the government will be able to do anything without the permission of the people. For example, if the government imposes GST on items that are currently exempted from it, then it won’t be allowed to do it.
Pros And Cons Of Small Government – The Table
Serial | Pros of Small Government | Cons of Small Government |
1. | Smaller governments mean more freedom for citizens. | Less powerful is a Smaller government. |
2. | Smaller governments are safer. | Large governments are more capable than small ones. |
3. | A small government is more effective than a big one. | Small governments are less transparent than large ones. |
4. | Smaller governments are more effective and efficient. | A smaller government is not as responsive as a larger government. |
5. | Smaller government is less expensive. | Small governments don’t have the resources to serve everyone. |
6. | Small Government is best in Small Country. | Small governments do not have as much influence as large ones. |
What Are Small Governments?
Small government is a form of government in which the power to make decisions is given to the people. It is a political system in which the power of the government is limited by law. In other words, small governments allow people to decide what they want and what they don’t. The purpose of this type of government is to give people the freedom to make their own choices. For example, if you want to buy or sell something, then small governments allow you to do so without any restrictions.
Small government is a very old form of government. In fact, it has been in use since ancient times. The people of ancient Greece and Rome had to follow this system because they didn’t have any other choice. They had to make their own decisions by themselves. But during the medieval period, small governments were replaced by monarchies and absolute monarchies. These governments were more powerful than the small governments that were in use during those times. But, after a few centuries, the small government became dominant again and the monarchies lost their powers to them.
Pros Of Small Government:

Small governments have several advantages over large ones. We will discuss them one by one below:
1. People have more Freedom:
Small governments give people the freedom to make their own choices. As a result, people are able to do whatever they want without any restrictions or boundaries. This is the main reason why everyone loves small governments.
2. They are less Dangerous:
Small governments are less dangerous than large ones because they don’t have enough power to harm the people of their country. For example, if there is a dictatorship in place, then it can be dangerous for the people living in that country because they won’t be able to say anything against the government without facing any consequences. But if there is a small government in place, then it won’t be as dangerous as a dictatorship because it doesn’t have enough power to harm the people.
3. They are more Flexible:
A small government is more flexible than a large one because it has fewer rules and regulations. So, it is easier for the people living in that country to make their own decisions without having to worry about any other factors.
4. They are more Effective:
Small governments are much more effective than large ones because they don’t have the power to waste money on useless things. For example, if a small government decides that it wants to build a bridge, then it will only construct one or two bridges instead of wasting millions of dollars on building many bridges at once as a large government would do.
5. They are less Expensive:
Small governments are cheaper to run than large ones. For example, if a small government decides to build a road, then it will only build one or two roads instead of building many roads at once as a large government would do.
Cons Of Small Government:
Small governments also have some disadvantages over their larger counterparts. We will discuss the below:
1. They are less Powerful:
A small government is less powerful and influential than a large one because it doesn’t have the power to make decisions on its own. For example, if there is an economic crisis in place, then the people living in that country won’t be able to solve it by themselves instead, they will have to wait for the government to take a decision to solve it.
2. They are less Capable:
Small governments are not as capable as large ones because they don’t have enough resources to handle all the problems of the people living in that country. For example, if there is a problem in place, then the government will not be able to solve it on its own instead, it will have to take some time to collect information from different sources and then make a decision based on that information.
3. They are less Transparent:
Small governments are not as transparent as large ones because they don’t have enough transparency in their governance system. For example, if there is corruption in place, then there won’t be enough transparency in the government to handle the problem.
4. They are less Responsive:
Small governments are not as responsive as large ones because they will not be able to respond to the problems of their people in a timely manner. For example, if there is a natural disaster in place, then small governments will take some time to decide what needs to be done and then take action on it.
5. They lack Resources:
Small governments are not as capable as large ones because they don’t have enough resources to handle all the problems of the people living in that country. For example, if there is a problem in place, then the government will not be able to solve it on its own but instead, it will have to take some time to collect information from different sources and then make a decision based on that information.
6. They lack Authority:
Small governments are not as powerful and influential as large ones because they don’t have the power to make decisions on their own. For example, if there is an economic crisis in place, then the people living in that country won’t be able to solve it by themselves but instead, they will have to wait for the government to take a decision to solve it.
Conclusion:
In this essay, We have explained the pros and cons of small governments. Small governments are not as powerful, influential, and effective as large ones because they don’t have the power to make decisions on their own.