Economic Regulation Quotes

Why should I nationalize the industry. I shall nationalize the people.

State intervention in economic production arises only when private initiative is lacking or insufficient, or when the political interests of the State are involved. This intervention may take the form of control, assistance or direct management.

I am against market fundamentalism. I think this propaganda that government involvement is always bad has been very successful - but also very harmful to our society.

If you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it.

Men may differ as to the particular form of governmental activity with respect to industry and business, but nearly all are agreed that private enterprise in times such as these cannot be left without assistance and without reasonable safeguards lest it destroy not only itself but also our processes of civilization.

Market fundamentalists recognize that the role of the state in the economy is always disruptive, inefficient, and generally has negative connotations. This leads them to believe that the market mechanism can take care of all the problems.

We need open, competitive, market economies... but at the same time with effective regulation and supervision.

Every coercive monopoly was created by government intervention into the economy: by special privileges, such as franchises or subsidies, which closed the entry of competitors into a given field, by legislative action.

The government has, in all countries, a vast influence, in determining the character of the national consumption; not only because it absolutely directs the consumption of the state itself, but because a great proportion of the consumption of individuals is gained by its will and example.

The conservative argument is that the economy is like the weather, that it just operates automatically.

Either you believe in markets, or you believe in government.

FDR's New Deal and, after it, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower's similar Middle Way, used the government to regulate business, provide a basic social safety net, and promote infrastructure, like roads and bridges.

The question of how to structure our nation's financial system arose in the early years of the republic.

The fully planned economy, so far from being unpopular, is warmly regarded by those who know it best.

… governments must serve capitalism by establishing and maintain a framework which enables capitalism to develop. It can induce it to grow, but cannot command it to do so.

Only God can fix prices.

Historically speaking, Socialism has already shown itself in England in the extension of State interference. It has produced the Factory Laws, and it is now beginning to advance further and interfere directly in the division of produce between the workmen and their employers.

When you give government the power to control the money supply, it grows like a tumor until it extinguishes society itself.

Like air traffic, the free movement of capital needs controls.

When Government has a monopoly of all production and all distribution, as many Governments have, it can not permit any economic activity that competes with it.

… socialism is not a system for redistributing wealth but a system to control people and competitors

…society in a modern democracy will not permit unregulated control over production and sale of its necessities.

Competition doesn't work well in the transportation business.

We no longer have a free market in the United States, we have a government controlled free market.

If by carelessness in controlling inflation and imposing controls on our general economy we are unable to meet these temporary but vital calls upon us, we will be courting real disaster.