--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The market, if it can be kept honest and…" description: "\"The market, if it can be kept honest and competitive, does provide very strong incentives for work effort and productive contributions. In their absenc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/arthur-melvin-okun-87128_absence_the-market-if-it-can-be-kept-honest-and_2196445.png" --- # The market, if it can be kept honest and competitive, does… ![“The market, if it can be kept honest and competitive, does provide very strong incentives for work effort and productive contributions. In their absence, society would thrash about for alternative incentives-some unreliable, like altruism; some perilous like collective loyalty; some intolerable…” quote by Arthur Melvin Okun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/arthur-melvin-okun-87128_absence_the-market-if-it-can-be-kept-honest-and_2196445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/arthur-melvin-okun-87128_absence_the-market-if-it-can-be-kept-honest-and_2196445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/934/arthur-melvin-okun-87128_absence_the-market-if-it-can-be-kept-honest-and_2196445.png) > “The market, if it can be kept honest and competitive, does provide very strong incentives for work effort and productive contributions. In their absence, society would thrash about for alternative incentives-some unreliable, like altruism; some perilous like collective loyalty; some intolerable, like coercion or oppression.” [Arthur Melvin Okun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-melvin-okun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fair, competitive market motivates hard work and productivity, while lacking such a market forces societies to rely on unreliable or harmful incentives. **In simple terms:** Markets reward effort; without them we need other motivators. Key Takeaway Ensure market fairness to sustain productivity. Themes economics incentives society work productivity Mood analytical concerned Type economic policy When to use this quote - policy design - business strategy - public administration Key Concepts market competition motivation theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - How can we balance market incentives with social welfare? - What alternative incentives are ethical and effective? A Different Perspective Markets can fail without regulation, leading to inequality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absence/) [Alternative Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternative-incentives-4805656/) [Alternatives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alternatives/) [Altruism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/altruism/) [Coercion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coercion/) [Collectives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/collectives/) [Contribution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contribution/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Economy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economy/) [Effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effort/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives/) [Incentives Unreliable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives-unreliable-4805655/) [Incentives Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives-work-2280941/) [Investing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/investing/) [Liberalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberalism/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Oppression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oppression/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productive/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Strong Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong-incentives-4805657/) [Unreliable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unreliable/) [Very strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very-strong/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Work effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-effort/) ## Related quotes > [“Do you want to influence the behaviour of people or organisations? 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