Abolish Quote by Ludwig von Mises
“These people talk of a "middle-of-the-road" policy. What they do not see is that the isolated interference, which means the interference with only one small part of the economic system, brings about a situation which the governement itself-and the people who are asking for government interference-find worse than the conditions they wish to abolish: the people who are asking for rent control are very angry when they discover there is a shortage of apartments and a shortage of housing.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Human Action, 1949
Targeted government fixes often cause broader market failures, worsening the problems they aim to solve.
In simple terms: Specific interventions can create larger economic issues.
Key Takeaway
Beware unintended consequences of regulation.
Themes
economics
government
policy
unintended consequences
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- housing policy
- rent control
- minimum wage
- trade tariffs
Key Concepts
Market equilibrium
regulatory impact
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives address the root cause?
- How can policymakers predict side effects?
A Different Perspective
Regulations may be politically popular but economically harmful.
