What Is Laissez-Faire?
Laissez-faire is an economic theory from the 18th century that opposed government intervention in business affairs. The driving principle behind laissez-faire, a French term that translates to “leave alone” (literally, “let you do”), is that the less the government is involved in the economy, the better business will be, and by extension, society as a whole.
Laissez-faire economics is a vital part of free-market capitalism.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Laissez-faire is an economic philosophy of free-market capitalism that opposes government intervention.
- The French Physiocrats developed the theory of laissez-faire during the 18th century.
- Laissez-faire advocates that economic success is inhibited when governments are involved in business and markets.
- Later, free-market economists built on the ideas of laissez-faire as a path to economic prosperity, though detractors have criticized it for promoting inequality.
- Critics argue that markets need a certain degree of government regulation and involvement.
Understanding Laissez-Faire
The underlying beliefs that make up the fundamentals of laissez-faire economics include the idea that economic competition constitutes a “natural order” that rules the world. Because this natural self-regulation is the best type of regulation, laissez-faire economists argue that there is no need for business and industrial affairs to be complicated by government intervention.
As a result, they oppose any federal involvement in the economy, including legislation or oversight; they are against minimum wages, duties, trade restrictions, and corporate taxes. Laissez-faire economists see such taxes as a penalty for production.
Laissez-faire is often associated with Libertarian views on the economy, where government plays a minimal role. One of the key characteristics of Laissez-Faire is that the government should only be involved with the following three functions:
- Protecting the national borders via a standing army
- Protecting private property rights and personal freedom via a police force and judiciary
- Producing public goods that serve society (e.g., parks, libraries, etc.) that the market would not be incentivized to deliver on its own
History of Laissez-Faire
Popularized in the mid-1700s, the doctrine of laissez-faire is one of the first articulated economic theories. It originated with a group known as the Physiocrats, who flourished in France from about 1756 to 1778.1 These thinkers tried to apply scientific principles and methodology to studying wealth and economic production. These “économistes” (as they dubbed themselves) argued that a free market and free economic competition were significant to the health of a free society.2 The government should only intervene in the economy to preserve property, life, and individual freedom; otherwise, the natural, unchanging laws that govern market forces and economic processes—what later British economist Adam Smith, dubbed the “invisible hand“—should be allowed to proceed unhindered.
Unfortunately, an early effort to test laissez-faire theories did not go well. As an experiment in 1774, Turgot, Louis XVI’s Controller-General of Finances, abolished all restraints on the heavily controlled grain industry, allowing imports and exports between provinces to operate as a free trade system. But when poor harvests caused scarcities, prices shot through the roof; merchants hoarded supplies or sold grain in strategic areas, even outside the country, for better profit, while thousands of French citizens starved. Riots ensued for several months. In the middle of 1775, an order was restored, and with it, the government-controlled the grain market.
Despite this inauspicious start, laissez-faire practices, developed further by such British economists as Smith and David Ricardo, ruled during the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th century. And, as its detractors noted, it did result in unsafe working conditions and large wealth gaps.
Only at the beginning of the 20th century did developed industrialized nations like the U.S. begin to implement significant government controls and regulations to protect workers from hazardous conditions and consumers from unfair business practices. However, it’s important to note that these policies did not restrict business practices and competition.
Criticism of Laissez-Faire
One of the chief criticisms of laissez-faire is that capitalism has moral ambiguities built into it: It does not inherently protect the weakest in society. While laissez-faire advocates argue that societal benefits will follow if individuals serve their interests first.
Detractors feel laissez-faire leads to poverty and economic imbalances. They say that letting a financial system run without regulation or correction, in effect, dismisses or further victimizes those most in need of assistance.
The 20th-century British economist John Maynard Keynes was a prominent critic of laissez-faire economics. He argued that the question of the market solution versus government intervention needed to be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Pros and Cons of Laissez-Faire
Pros
- Government involvement in business is thought to be inefficient and stifling
- Encourages self-responsibility and innovation
- Promotes free markets and competition
Cons
- Lack of regulations can harm consumers and the environment
- Can generate negative externalities
- Competition naturally leads to wealth inequality
- May incentivize bad actors
What Does “Laissez-Faire” Mean Literally?
Laissez-Faire, in French, literally means “let it be.” Legend has it that the origins of the phrase “laissez-faire” in an economic context came from a 1681 meeting between the French finance minister Jean-Baptise Colbert and a businessman named Le Gendre. As the story goes, Colbert asked Le Gendre how best the government could help commerce, to which Le Gendre replied, “Laissez-nous faire;” basically, “Let it be.” The Physiocrats popularized the phrase, using it to name their core economic doctrine.
What Is an Example of Laissez-Faire?
An economy would follow the principles of Laissez-Faire if it followed an approach where the government was not involved in the workings of the economy, business, or markets. Instead, the free market would regulate prices and discipline producers to remain good actors. In reality, such an economy does not exist. All economies, even in countries with highly Libertarian values, have some degree of government regulation and intervention.
What Is Laissez-Faire Capitalism?
In Laissez-Faire capitalism, companies could operate with a pure profit motive and not worry about government regulation or taxation. This could create negative externalities and information asymmetries that allow producers to behave as bad actors and get away with it. Proponents of Laissez-Faire say that costly and exhaustive regulation is unnecessary since the market would weed out such bad actors. However, bad actors may continue operating for a long while. For instance, if a vitamin company fills its capsules with sawdust instead of herb powder, it may remain unknown without government testing and regulatory oversight to protect consumers.
