Freedom to Choose: A Personal Declaration (Deusto)

Economic freedom is an essential requirement for political freedom. This is the central thesis of "Free to Choose," co-authored by Milton and Rose Friedman. By allowing individuals to voluntarily cooperate, the free market system acts as a limit to the coercive power of the state and serves as a dispersing force that prevents large concentrations of economic power in a few hands.

Not only does liberalized economics serve as a deterrent to tyranny, but as the Friedmans demonstrate, it is also the economic system that has allowed for the greatest levels of economic prosperity and individual liberties in history. However, the economic miracle and innovation began to decline as soon as, starting from the 20th century, the state began to grow without limits and took on the central direction of economic activities that were previously the responsibility of the market.

Milton and Rose Friedman show how an oversized state not only hinders economic growth but also poses a serious threat to our freedoms. The authors contrast the paternalistic, interventionist, and controlling state with the values of individual responsibility and initiative, personal autonomy, and freedom of choice, and call on us not to trade our freedom for a mythical sense of security.

Originally published in 1980, "Free to Choose" was a bestseller in the United States, offering a compelling introduction to the influential liberal ideas of the Nobel laureate in economics, which had a significant impact on the ideologies of great leaders like Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher.

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