Free Markets vs Regulation

This cluster centers on debates about whether free markets can self-regulate effectively or if government regulations are necessary to address market failures, externalities, and issues like regulatory capture.

📉 Falling 0.5x Politics & Society
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#6184
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Keywords

VW e.g US NZ ARE MITM market free market markets regulations regulation free unregulated regulate government regulating

Sample Comments

ksk Dec 18, 2015 View on HN

Why can't both be true? Regulation is equally problematic as free markets.

amelius Sep 27, 2016 View on HN

There's one thing worse than the government regulating a market: a company regulating it :)

j-krieger Sep 19, 2021 View on HN

Because you can't force a 'free' market by introducing even more regulation and aggressive enforcement?

sintaxi Aug 27, 2023 View on HN

What makes you think the free market doesn't regulate?

Gehinnn Jul 23, 2023 View on HN

Doesn't the free market regulate this?

dleslie Nov 29, 2018 View on HN

Are there no unregulated markets?

mrighele Dec 23, 2022 View on HN

Free market doesn't mean unregulated market

Epa095 Dec 10, 2025 View on HN

Yes, and that's exactly why we need regulations, and can't leave it to the market!

The market doesn't regulate itself.

lostlogin Dec 31, 2022 View on HN

This might be more of a reflection on the governance where you are. The idea of an unregulated country sounds terrible to me, and I am unaware of examples of it working. Most countries regulate things like aircraft safety with good effect. Regulating certain professions to ensure minimum standards is another good example.If you have any interest, check out the below link for a great piece of legislation. It protects NZ consumers and effectively puts a warranty on everything you buy here.An