This issue of The Freeman examines what it means to be economically productive, critiquing the ways government regulation, taxation, and subsidy divert people from creating real value. It argues that deficits are only a symptom of the deeper problem of excessive spending and intervention, showing how inflation, crowding-out, and tax burdens erode prosperity. Additional essays trace Puerto Rico’s economic history—from sugar dominance to industrial incentives—highlighting how controls, land reform, and wage mandates impede growth. Further articles critique Canada’s interventionist policies, defend business’s true social role as value creation rather than moral arbitration, and explore the cultural and spiritual roots of the American idea. Book reviews evaluate works on markets, virtue, minority economics, Christian social ethics, and the role of biblical covenant in economic life.
