RESPONSE TO HARTMANN ON POLITICAL ECONOMY

ABSTRACT. In the view of Hartmann (2004) government is in effect best which governs most. Not for this author an appreciation of Adam Smith’s self regulatory characteristics of the free market place. In Hartmann’s view, there is not, and cannot be, any such thing as free enterprise. The present article takes Hartmann (2004) to task for his mistaken views of political economy, free trade, the middle class, the causes of poverty and prosperity, and the proper role of government in the modern era. pp. 57–83
JEL: H10, H11

Keywords: capitalism, middle class, free trade, government