Economic Freedom in America Today

About 3 minutes.

Matt Ridley on Progress

A former science and technology editor for The Economist magazine, Matt Ridley is a journalist and best-selling author whose books include Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters. His most recent book is The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves.

Matt Ridley discusses the evolutionary process of "ideas having sex," calling it the secret behind human progress. He asserts that "barter was the trick that changed the world" and outlines his argument that life for the average human being is richer, healthier, and kinder than ever. Finally, he discusses whether limited government and rational optimism go hand in hand. About 33 minutes.

Opportunities as a Solution to Poverty

In an interview, philosopher David Schmidtz discusses the social conditions necessary for alleviating poverty. Opportunities to trade and to better one's life, through voluntary relationships in a world of peace, lead to mutually beneficial outcomes for everyone. About 3 minutes.

Economics professor Howie Baetjer of Towson University explains how the market process generates improvements in the human condition. In particular, he highlights how profit & loss serve to help people channel their activities in creative and socially useful directions. Filmed at the 2006 IHS seminar "Exploring Liberty" at Princeton University. About 55 minutes.

Economic Freedom and Growth

Economics professor Josh Hall describes how greater economic freedom leads to higher incomes and more economic development over time. When governments allow citizens the freedom to trade, own property, create businesses, and contract with others, the income of average citizens grows over time. This effect can be observed internationally when comparing countries, as well as domestically when comparing states in the US. About 3 minutes.

Economic Freedon and a Better Life

Economics professor Josh Hall explains how freedom leads to greater prosperity. 3 minutes.

Liberty as the Remedy to Poverty: Socialism as a Cause

Cato Institute official Tom Palmer discusses the cure to poverty. About one hour.

Milton Friedman on education and

Milton Friedman discusses economics and school choice. Note: there is unimportant crap for the first 9 minutes of the video which you can skip, before Friedman speaks. In addition ignore the introduction that equates Friedman with conservatism -- he wasn't. I wish people would get out of the way and let the man speak. About 60 minutes.

Abundance and social liberty

Brink Lindsey of the Cato Institute discusses, on The Daily Show, how economic prosperity allowed social freedom setting off the culture wars. About 10 minutes.