--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Economic freedom is an essential…" description: "\"“Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central directi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/milton-friedman-616_economic-freedom_economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisi_2879366.jpg" --- # Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political… ![“Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces the area over which political power is exercised. In addition, by dispersing power, the free market provides an offset to whatever…” quote by Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/milton-friedman-616_economic-freedom_economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisi_2879366.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/milton-friedman-616_economic-freedom_economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisi_2879366.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f05/milton-friedman-616_economic-freedom_economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisi_2879366.jpg) > ““Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces the area over which political power is exercised. In addition, by dispersing power, the free market provides an offset to whatever concentration of political power may arise. The combination of economic and political power in the same hands is a sure recipe for tyranny.”” [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Economic freedom limits political power by dispersing authority, preventing tyranny when both are combined. **In simple terms:** Free markets curb political tyranny. Key Takeaway Promote economic liberty. Themes freedom politics market tyranny Mood analytical critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy making - business regulation - civil society Key Concepts libertarianism decentralization power diffusion Questions to Reflect On - How does economic freedom protect political rights? - What safeguards prevent market abuses? A Different Perspective Assumes markets are always fair. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economic freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-freedom/) [Economic Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-political-664751/) [Free market](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-market/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Freedom Essential](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom-essential-831282/) [Political freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-freedom/) [Political power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/political-power/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Requisite Political](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/requisite-political-831283/) ## Related quotes > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Viewed as a means to the end of political freedom, economic arrangements are important because of their effect on the concentration or dispersion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/viewed-as-a-means-to-the-end-of-political-freedom-economic/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The combination of economic and political power in the same hands is a sure recipe for tyranny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-combination-of-economic-and-political-power-in-the-same-hands-is/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is ... an indispensable means toward the achievement of political freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-indispensable-means-toward-the-achievement-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [If you do not force political freedom, economic freedom will be stymied sooner or later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/if-you-do-not-force-political-freedom-economic-freedom-will-be/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Freedom in economic arrangements is itself a component of freedom broadly understood, so economic freedom is an end in itself ... Economic freedom is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/freedom-in-economic-arrangements-is-itself-a-component-of-freedom/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Conservatives tend to believe there is a close and necessary connection between prosperity and freedom - that economic freedom is an essential part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-feulner/conservatives-tend-to-believe-there-is-a-close-and-necessary/) [Edwin Feulner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-feulner/) > [All of the government's monetary, economic and political power, as well as its extensive propaganda machinery, will be enlisted in a constant battle to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-schiff/all-of-the-government-s-monetary-economic-and-political-power-as-well/) [Irwin Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-schiff/) > [“Inclusive economic and political institutions do not emerge by themselves. They are often the outcome of significant conflict between elites resisting economic growth and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daron-acemo-lu/inclusive-economic-and-political-institutions-do-not-emerge-by-2/) [Daron Acemoğlu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daron-acemo-lu/) > [Let us then repeat and firmly fix this main point: the evil, the root evil, of that to which the term Capitalism has come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/let-us-then-repeat-and-firmly-fix-this-main-point-the-evil-the-root/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [You can have economic freedom without political freedom, but you cannot have political freedom without economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-august-von-hayek/you-can-have-economic-freedom-without-political-freedom-but-you/) [Friedrich August von Hayek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-august-von-hayek/) > [Political freedom without economic freedom is almost worthless, and it is because the modern proletariat has the one kind of freedom without the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilaire-belloc/political-freedom-without-economic-freedom-is-almost-worthless-and-it/) [Hilaire Belloc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilaire-belloc/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [The idea that political freedom can be preserved in the absence of economic freedom, and vice versa, is an illusion. Political freedom is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-idea-that-political-freedom-can-be-preserved-in-the-absence-of/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [Liberalism is a force truly of the spirit proceeding from the deep realization that economic freedom cannot be sacrificed if political freedom is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-hoover/liberalism-is-a-force-truly-of-the-spirit-proceeding-from-the-deep/) [Herbert Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-hoover/) ## More by Milton Friedman > [The government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-solution-to-a-problem-is-usually-as-bad-as-the-problem/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I believe the role that people like myself have played in the transformation of public opinion has been by persistently presenting a different point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-believe-the-role-that-people-like-myself-have-played-in-the/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [To really understand something you've got to reduce it to its principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/to-really-understand-something-you-ve-got-to-reduce-it-to-its/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is a mark of how far we have gone on the road to serfdom that government allocation and rationing of oil is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-a-mark-of-how-far-we-have-gone-on-the-road-to-serfdom-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [“The people in one district can choose not to reelect their member of Congress, but that will not change the composition of the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-people-in-one-district-can-choose-not-to-reelect-their-member-of/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [When you have a time of crisis what happens depends on what ideas are floating around, and what ideas have been developed, and thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/when-you-have-a-time-of-crisis-what-happens-depends-on-what-ideas-are/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [The government doesn't have any money. The only power it has is to take from some and give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/the-government-doesn-t-have-any-money-the-only-power-it-has-is-to/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [What would the people who sold us goods do with the money? They'd get dollars. What would they do with the dollars? Eat them?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/what-would-the-people-who-sold-us-goods-do-with-the-money-they-d-get/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [World trade depends on differences among countries, not similarities. Different countries are in different stages of development. It is appropriate for them to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/world-trade-depends-on-differences-among-countries-not-similarities/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on greed? You think China doesn't run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that-doesn-t-run-on-greed-you-think/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Well first of all, tell me, is there some society you know of that doesn't run on greed? You think Russia doesn't run on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/well-first-of-all-tell-me-is-there-some-society-you-know-of-that/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [I think almost every economist would agree that government gets itself in trouble when it tries to interfere with voluntary behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/i-think-almost-every-economist-would-agree-that-government-gets/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [It is most attractive about the US to people and countries with wealth is that it can provide security, insurance really, against political instability.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/it-is-most-attractive-about-the-us-to-people-and-countries-with/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Hong Kong is the bellwether. If the Chinese stick to their agreement to let Hong Kong go its own path, then China will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/hong-kong-is-the-bellwether-if-the-chinese-stick-to-their-agreement/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) [Explore all 444 Milton Friedman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) ## More Economic freedom quotes > [Reproductive freedom means economic freedom. And that's what this debate is about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-degette/reproductive-freedom-means-economic-freedom-and-that-s-what-this/) [Diana DeGette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-degette/) > [It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-hamilton/it-will-be-of-little-avail-to-the-people-that-the-laws-are-made-by/) [Alexander Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-hamilton/) > [There is no subtler, no surer means of overturning the existing basis of society than to debauch the currency.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/there-is-no-subtler-no-surer-means-of-overturning-the-existing-basis/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milton-friedman/economic-freedom-is-an-essential-requisite-for-political-freedom-by/) [Milton Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milton-friedman/) > [Labor Day symbolizes our determination to achieve an economic freedom for the average man which will give his political freedom realty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-d-roosevelt/labor-day-symbolizes-our-determination-to-achieve-an-economic-freedom/) [Franklin D. Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-d-roosevelt/) > [“If overpopulation or lack of resources created poverty, then Hong Kong should be poor. Hong Kong has 20 times as many people per square…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stossel/if-overpopulation-or-lack-of-resources-created-poverty-then-hong-kong/) [John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stossel/) > [We've become a collectivist economy in Illinois. It's crushing us. And no problem is going to get fixed unless we bring more economic freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-rauner/we-ve-become-a-collectivist-economy-in-illinois-it-s-crushing-us-and/) [Bruce Rauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-rauner/) > [As political and economic freedom diminishes, sexual freedom tends correspondingly to increase. And the dictator will do well to encourage that freedom...it will help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/as-political-and-economic-freedom-diminishes-sexual-freedom-tends/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [The world's problem is not too many people, but lack of political and economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-world-s-problem-is-not-too-many-people-but-lack-of-political-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The economic freedom that made the U.S. economy the leader of the world has given way toa rigged, controlled, and regulated economy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bonner/the-economic-freedom-that-made-the-u-s-economy-the-leader-of-the/) [Bill Bonner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bonner/) > [Less money in your wallet equals less economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-hoover/less-money-in-your-wallet-equals-less-economic-freedom/) [Margaret Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-hoover/) > [ I think there \[on Cuba\] is going to be an extraordinary reception.Cubans are - they want to hold onto their culture, their heritage, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-muir/i-think-there-on-cuba-is-going-to-be-an-extraordinary-reception/) [David Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-muir/) > [The lack of economic freedom could be a very major reason for loss of liberty, liberty of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/the-lack-of-economic-freedom-could-be-a-very-major-reason-for-loss-of/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [I studied what principles under-laid peace and prosperity and concluded the only way to achieve societal well-being was through a system of economic freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-koch/i-studied-what-principles-under-laid-peace-and-prosperity-and/) [Charles Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-koch/) > [At the heart of the WTO is an assault on everything left standing in the commons, in the public realm. Everything is now for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maude-barlow/at-the-heart-of-the-wto-is-an-assault-on-everything-left-standing-in/) [Maude Barlow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maude-barlow/) [Browse all 143 Economic freedom quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economic-freedom/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Economic freedom is an essential requisite for political freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces the area over which political power is exercised. In addition, by dispersing power, the free market provides an offset to whatever concentration of political power may arise. 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