Open Markets and Happiness

Large open markets run by enterprising entrepreneurs best facilitate happiness because they give people the best chance to get what they want.

Meaning more people can live their best lives --  even if people can’t really decide what exactly makes them happy.

Markets solve this problem of indecision by ensuring that there are always ample opportunities, goods, and services.

So that way people can afford to experiment if nothing initially satisfies their wants and needs.

Likewise these markets lower costs which makes life more affordable and hence opportunity more accessible.

That way if people encounter hardship they can quickly rebound and get back on track to financial success.

Or, in other words, markets make people happy by affording them the opportunity of self discovery without much threat of costly harm.

In the history of humanity such an affordance is unprecedented.

And contrary to how economically illiterate politicians describe happiness.

Politicians make it seem like only they can provide happiness to their constituents, which they usually associate with some glib political boilerplate like “freedom.”

But freedom, and hence happiness, without money and opportunity is like a plant without water.  Eventually it just withers away into nothing -- like the over regulated economies they oversee.

Clearly politicians can do better just by getting out of the way.

Because happiness is not dependent on government mandates, decrees, or laws. 

Instead happiness is the organic by-product of entrepreneurial independence, the belief in upward mobility, and big open markets.  

And it pays off -- and pays well.  Or at least it would for more people if it wasn’t for our overbearing government.

Zigmund Reichenbach has an M.A. in Philosophy from West Chester University and works as an advocate for less government.  You can help him combat bad ideas in politics and philosophy by donating to his work at https://ko-fi.com/zigmundreichenbach .

Follow him on X at @zreichenbach1