Often desired by parents, child labor was ended not by paternalistic legislation, but when the parents' rising labor productivity made it unnecessary. The clergy's laudable concern for the poor frequently finds expression in endorsement of the welfare state. Up from Poverty argues, however, that this is a false answer. Private charity is better, because the givers have an incentive to ensure that charity is wisely spent. Not only is its theory dubious, but the welfare state's practice is dysfunctional.
Welfare discourages self-reliance and encourages dependence.
The ably presented histories of Puerto Rico, saddled for decades with massive statism, and of the catastrophically expensive and demoralizing Swedish welfare state, offer grim lessons in how to wreck an economy. The theoretical expositions in these volumes are usually highly competent and accessible. Unfortunately, many articles illuminating free enterprise's practice and statism's follies are dated. In Free to Try, for example, the pieces are five to fifteen years old. Some updating might have been wise.