Freedom creates prosperity. Societies that have embraced

freedom have made themselves rich. Those that have not have

remained poor.

But a free society is superior in non-material ways too. It

operates on the basis of mutual trust and cooperation between

individuals, not on the basis of power and coercion. Its citizens

share deep cultural, personal and moral ties. They accept rules of

interpersonal behaviour voluntarily, for their mutual benefit, not

because these rules are imposed on them. Their governments have

the consent of the governed, and are themselves governed by rules

to prevent them exploiting their authority.

A free society unleashes human talent, invention and innovation.

That enables it to create wealth where none existed before.

People in a free society do not become rich by exploiting others,

as the elites of less-free countries do. They cannot become rich by

making others poorer. They become rich only by providing others

with what they want and making other people’s lives better.