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Milton Friedman Speaks: What is Wrong with the Welfare State? (B1229) - Full Video

Free To Choose Network・58 minutes read

The welfare state, tracing back to the 19th century in Great Britain, aims to benefit the lower classes but faces challenges globally, leading to inefficiency, coercion, and a loss of individual freedom. The growth of welfare measures has led to significant government expenditures and strain on societal values, requiring a shift towards gradual elimination and voluntary cooperation for common objectives to improve the overall situation.

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The welfare state concept originated in the 19th century with figures like William Oastler and Lord Shaftesbury advocating for the welfare of the lower classes, driven by the belief that an elite group knew what was best for the ordinary man, leading to the introduction of welfare measures in countries like Germany, Sweden, and the United States.
Welfare states globally face challenges due to inefficiency, waste, and coercion, stemming from trying to achieve noble objectives using government funds, as highlighted by Frédéric Bastiat's concept of government as a means for everyone to live at the expense of others, with examples like New York City illustrating the inefficiency of government spending.
The welfare state's growth can encroach on freedom, leading to regimentation and erosion of ethical and moral standards, with a potential solution being the gradual elimination of social welfare measures in favor of a negative income tax, emphasizing the importance of individual responsibility for a functioning free society.

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Recent questions

What is the core issue with welfare states?
In trying to achieve noble objectives using government funds, welfare states face inefficiency, coercion, and a loss of individual freedom.
How do welfare states impact individual autonomy?
Welfare states foster regimentation and erode ethical and moral standards, impacting individual autonomy.
What are the consequences of government growth in welfare states?
Government growth in welfare states can encroach on freedom through fiscal crises and bureaucratic control.
How can the impact of the welfare state be countered?
The impact of the welfare state can be countered by voluntary cooperation for common objectives.
What is the suggested approach to improve welfare state outcomes?
Combining programs and implementing constitutional limitations on total spending can achieve a global equilibrium and improve outcomes for all.

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Summary

00:00

Origins and Challenges of Welfare States

Dr. Milton Friedman discusses the origins of the welfare state, tracing back to the early 19th century in Great Britain with figures like William Oastler and Lord Shaftesbury advocating for the welfare of the lower classes.
The welfare state concept was driven by the belief that an elite group knew what was best for the ordinary man and should structure society for their benefit, a notion seen in modern times with figures like John Kenneth Galbraith.
Bismarck's Germany in the late 19th century introduced welfare measures on a large scale, influencing the modern welfare state's development in various countries like Great Britain, Sweden, and the United States.
Despite noble objectives, welfare states globally are facing difficulties, with the UK, Sweden, Denmark, and the US experiencing social, economic, and political challenges.
The welfare state model starts with taxing a small percentage to benefit a larger group, but over time, more people demand benefits, leading to a situation where everyone pays taxes to support everyone else.
The fundamental issue with welfare states lies in trying to achieve noble objectives using government funds, leading to inefficiency, waste, and coercion, as highlighted by Frédéric Bastiat's concept of government as a means for everyone to live at the expense of others.
New York City's welfare-oriented approach illustrates the inefficiency of government spending, where increased budgets have not solved problems but exacerbated them due to the mismanagement of public funds.
The loss of freedom is a significant consequence of the welfare state, as seen in New York City where governmental control has led to a lack of individual and civic freedom, with elected officials having limited power.
A. V. Dicey's foresight on the potential loss of individual liberty due to excessive state intervention has become evident in cases like Russia, where measures meant to care for individuals have been used to suppress dissent.
The disappointing results of welfare state measures stem from the inherent flaws of using government funds to achieve objectives, leading to inefficiency, coercion, and a loss of individual freedom, as seen in the case of New York City and other welfare state models globally.

20:49

Misuse of liberalism in public housing policy.

Liberalism is about freedom, but modern liberals have misused the term to justify spending public money.
Public housing programs have often resulted in tearing down more homes than building new ones, leading to increased crime and poverty.
Public housing concentrates poor families in one area, hindering their chances of improvement due to lack of diversity and support.
Advocates of public housing admit its failures but suggest more funding or different approaches rather than acknowledging systemic issues.
The political arena operates similarly to the economic market, with individuals pursuing their own interests for votes or influence.
In political markets, competition for government resources leads to inefficiency and no net gain due to the pursuit of personal interests.
Examples like TV and radio licenses show how individuals invest heavily to secure government benefits, resulting in no overall benefit.
Urban renewal legislation also incentivizes individuals to manipulate the system for personal gain, leading to inefficiency and misuse of resources.
In politics, coalitions are formed to benefit the majority at the expense of the extremes, with special interests wielding significant power.
The growth of the welfare state empowers government officials, elected and unelected, who prioritize their own interests over the general welfare, hindering effective policy implementation.

36:30

Government Welfare Programs: Impact on Society's Autonomy

Over the past 50 years, numerous welfare measures have been implemented, with total government expenditures today amounting to one-seventh of the national income.
The government estimates that around 12 percent of the population is in poverty, with $9,000 per person or $36,000 per family of four being spent on welfare programs, far exceeding the average per capita income of $6,500.
Governmental expenditures on higher education primarily benefit students, who often come from upper-income classes, leading to a significant transfer of wealth from low-income groups to middle-income groups.
Social Security, a costly program, involves a substantial transfer from low-income groups to middle-income groups, with those in higher-income brackets benefiting more due to longer life expectancies and later entry into the workforce.
Legislation aimed at helping the poor often ends up benefiting middle-income individuals, with programs like Social Security and higher education exemplifying this trend.
Direct welfare programs like AFDC are the only ones where recipients have lower average incomes than those paying taxes, drawing significant opposition despite being a small fraction of total poverty-related expenditures.
Welfare-state measures not only waste resources but also strain societal values by relying on government intervention, contrasting with the market's ability to facilitate cooperation without conformity.
Political mechanisms enforce conformity and strain social fabric, leading to divisiveness and regionalism within society, as seen in the growth of ethnic particularism and bloc formation.
Welfare state measures foster acceptance of regimentation, particularly among the poor who receive benefits, with restrictions on daily activities and decisions imposed by welfare supervisors.
The conflict between government growth and human freedom is evident in the regimentation of lives experienced by welfare recipients, highlighting the impact of welfare programs on individual autonomy and decision-making.

53:03

Navigating Welfare State: Forms, Conditions, and Impact

Individuals under Medicare must understand the necessary forms to complete.
Students receiving federal aid must adhere to specific conditions.
Future benefits from the government require cautious actions to avoid jeopardizing acceptability.
The welfare state fosters regimentation and erodes ethical and moral standards.
Responsibility for oneself is crucial for a functioning free society.
The growth of the welfare state can encroach on freedom through fiscal crises and bureaucratic control.
Gradual elimination of social welfare measures is preferable, with a negative income tax as a potential substitute.
The inefficiency of government and high taxes can lead to discontent and a potential tax revolt.
The welfare state's impact can be countered by voluntary cooperation for common objectives.
Public housing programs have not effectively improved housing for the poor, often leading to worse conditions.

01:09:50

Resource Availability and Economic Progress: Past and Present

The first oil well was drilled in Titusville in 1858, leading to a significant increase in available oil resources since 1850.
Technological advancements have expanded the volume of resources accessible to us, enhancing our resource availability compared to the nineteenth century.
Government regulation of resources has been criticized for causing waste and misuse, with a call to focus on available resources rather than potential future discoveries.
Acknowledgment of the economic progress owed to the ancestors of the nineteenth century, emphasizing the debt we owe to their efforts.
Germany's economic success is attributed to Ludwig Erhard's decision to implement a free market economy in 1948, leading to an economic miracle.
The effectiveness of government spending depends on policies and societal attitudes, with Germany relying more on private markets than the U.S.
Private charitable activities in the U.S. have historically played a significant role in societal welfare, contrasting the reliance on government welfare programs.
The impact of government welfare programs on disadvantaged groups, such as black Americans, is questioned, highlighting potential negative consequences.
The discussion shifts to the role of government in providing adequate housing for the poor, with an emphasis on promoting individual opportunities through free enterprise.
The debate on social goods that the private marketplace may not adequately supply, with a focus on externalities like pollution and the challenges of government intervention.

01:25:37

"Trade-offs in programs hinder global equilibrium"

In every individual program, there is a trade-off where gains in one area result in losses in another, leading to concentrated interests and diffuse costs. This leads to each person benefiting from their program but at the expense of others, potentially resulting in a worse overall outcome. The lack of a global equilibrium prevents a drastic rearrangement that could benefit everyone. To address this, the speaker suggests combining programs and implementing constitutional limitations on total spending to achieve a global equilibrium and improve the situation for all.

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