The debate over whether capitalism or statism is the appropriate economic system has been raging for centuries. But what’s become increasingly clear is that the proponents of the free market are winning the war. Over the years, government monopolies have been suffering at the hands of capitalism’s unstoppable drive for freedom and competition. The most famous example is the Dutch East India Company. After dominating the spice trade for centuries, and working as an effective government-run monopoly, the Company eventually succumbed to the free market.

It’s no secret that the government’s attempts at regulation have created myriad problems. From increased government debt to lack of financial freedom, the issue of ‘big government’ is one that’s deeply debated and often misunderstood. Yet, it’s time we look at the deeper implications of these regulations and decide if they are really solving the problems they set out to address. Throughout history, the greatest leaps of human progress have come as a result of individual freedom, not central control.