Ha-Joon Chang Myth Quotations

Overcoming the myth that there is such a thing as an objectively defined 'free market' is the first step towards understanding capitalism.

Basically, the myth is that America has been founded on the free market; the government has done very little; it has thrived under free trade. But actually, if you look at the history, this is actually the country that has succeeded most with protectionist policies.

It is time that we dispensed with the myth that the market is a force of nature that should not be meddled with. Markets are social creations that can be, and have been, modified for social purposes.