Municipal trading
Citation:
Shaw, James J. 'Municipal trading'. - Dublin: Journal of the Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of Ireland,Vol. XI Part LXXXII, 1901/1902, pp77-92Download Item:
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Abstract:
One of the most strongly-marked characteristics of the older
school of British Political Economy was its intense jealousy of
State interference with the processes of industry or with the
course of trade. From Adam Smith down to Fawcett and
Cairnes no principle was more strongly inculcated than this?
that for the State to interfere to protect industry or to encourage
trade or to regulate the conditions under which either
was carried on was sure to end in economic mischief. This
principle rested on certain broad grounds of political expediency
and economic law which I cannot attempt to do more than
indicate here. In the first place, these writers considered
Governmental interference in trade as entirely outside the
proper sphere of government, and, indeed, wholly inconsistent
with one of its most important functions. The great and
supreme functions of government, after securing the State from
external foes and from internal disorder, were the maintenance
of the liberty and property of the individual citizen. But it
is impossible for the State to dictate the conditions under which
industry or trade shall be carried on without interfering with
the liberty of the individual in the most important matter
which concerns him, the occupation by which he earns a living
for himself and those dependent on him. The State, whose
function it is to secure men's liberty, was thus itself guilty of
a serious breach of that liberty in regard to one of the most
important concerns of life.
Description:
Read Friday, 29th November, 1901
Author: Shaw, James J.
Publisher:
Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of IrelandType of material:
Journal articleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of The Statistical and Social Inquiry Society of IrelandVol. XI Part LXXXII 1901/1902
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Laissez faire, Municipal tradingISSN:
00814776Licences: