THE CONTRADICTIONS OF FREE-MARKET DOCTRINE - IS THERE A SOLUTION

The article considers six standard arguments in favour of an unfettere d free market: (1) the freedom to consume; (2) the freedom of the sell er; (3) the freedom of the producer; (4) freedom from government inter ference; (5) lower costs; (6) promotion of democracy. It demonstrates that each of these arguments turns out to be incoherent on closer exam ination. The ground of this incoherence it is shown, is the market doc trine's systematic omission of non-business costs and benefits from it s analysis, a methodological blindness which can only be overcome by a wider-lensed comprehension of economic value.