This issue of The Freeman explores how political incentives, not public interest, drive government spending and create structural deficits. It examines the unintended harms of good intentions, the economic pressures behind shrinkflation, and the role of capitalism in generating cultural and material progress. Additional essays defend the moral foundations of private property, critique the illusion that government can resolve poverty through transfer programs, and clarify the distinction between productive and coercive action. Book reviews address trade restrictions, India’s political economy, and the influence of taxation on freedom and voluntary cooperation.
