Meditations and Learnings

Meditations and Learnings

Don't Thank the Government

People often attribute higher standards of living to government intervention. They thank the politicians for passing laws that make their jobs better. They should thank their increased productivity and market competition. If anything, “pro-worker” laws have had predominately negative side effects for workers, the worst of which is unemployment. Some of these same people, and plenty of others, might at the very least express gratitude that immigration restrictions have secured their jobs. Once again, all these policies achieve is increasing global poverty and inequality and making each native citizen poorer. A country increases wealth via specialisation and trade: immigration is specialisation and trade in labour.