To escape the cycle of tragedy, we (searchers) have to be tough on the ideas of the planners, even while we salute their goodwill.
The rich have markets, the poor have bureaucrats.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote highlights the differing dynamics of wealth and power in society, emphasizing the role of markets for the rich and bureaucracy for the poor.
William Easterly's quote reflects the disparity in economic systems experienced by different socioeconomic classes. It suggests that wealthy individuals or nations have access to free markets where they can prosper and thrive, while the poor are often subjected to bureaucratic systems that can hinder progress and limit their opportunities. This contrast underscores the systemic inequalities that define economic participation and the ability to access resources.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on socioeconomic disparities, this quote can emphasize the differences in opportunities.
More from William Easterly
All quotes βSimilar quotes
Trade and commerce, if they were not made of Indian rubber, would never manage to bounce over the obstacles which legislators are continually putting in their way.
The economic dynamic in Zimbabwe is perversely robust: while ordinary people suffer, black-market dealers and people with foreign bank accounts prosper, making them powerful stakeholders in the perpetuation of devastating economic policies.
Contrary to a tenacious myth, France is not owned by California pension funds or the Bank of China, any more than the United States belongs to Japanese and German investors. The fear of getting into such a predicament is so strong today that fantasy often outstrips reality. The reality is that inequality with respect to capital is a far greater domestic issue than it is an international one.
We've used up a lot of bullets. And we talk about stimulus. But the truth is, we're running a federal deficit that's 9 percent of GDP. That is stimulative as all get out. It's more stimulative than any policy we've followed since World War II.
We have designed a capitalist system wrong. We assume human beings are one-dimensional, all they do is make money, so we've created a money-centric world.
In a sense, the market, by expecting a fall in prices, discounts that fall and makes it happen right away instead of later. Expectations speed up future price reactions.