Single Idea 22600

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 4. Free market]

Full Idea

Once the free working of the market is impeded beyond a certain degree, the planner will be forced to extend his controls until they become all comprehensive.

Gist of Idea

Impeding the market is likely to lead to extensive state control

Source

F.A. Hayek (The Road to Serfdom [1944]), quoted by Ian Dunt - How to be a Liberal 7

Book Reference

Dunt,Ian: 'How to Be a Liberal' [Canbury Press 2020], p.218


A Reaction

Hayek was terrified of totalitarianism (quite reasonably), but fascism and communism don't seem to have arisen in the way he describes. I'm not clear why sensible intervention in the market should slide down into nightmare.