SONORAMA's Free Market Organizations Page

WHY FREE MARKETS ?

Respect for private property rights, a civil society, free markets and free trade are among the hallmarks of a free society, and are the basis by which wealth is created.  These classical liberal beliefs, as elaborated by philosophers such as Thomas Jefferson and Adam Smith, have today come to be known as libertarian or free-market economics.

ECONOMIC FREEDOM IN ECUADOR

The trend towards freer markets has not skipped Ecuador.  For example, the disinvestment of government funds from enterprises that are more efficiently run by the private sector - known as privatization - has been advocated by a number of politicians and intellectuals in Ecuador.  However, privatization in Ecuador has had a slower start than in other countries, and often has been applied haphazardly of half-heartedly.  Government over-regulation is an major impediment to employment in Ecuador, and increases the cost of establishing or doing business in this country.  Resistance to privatization can be blamed for the horrible phone service of the country's quasi-governmental telephone monopoly and the abandonment of many miles of train service in Ecuador.

Despite these negative aspects of Ecuador, a closer look reveals terrific economic potential.  At the margins of government regulations exists a vast and thriving informal sector, accounting for around 60% of Ecuador's gross domestic product and employing a similar percentage of citizens.  Urban bus transportation is over 90% privately owned in Ecuador, resulting in cheap, convenient rides and almost no waiting for busses.  Culturally, Ecuadorians are an individualistic people and rather distrustful of government intrusions into their private life.

Adam Smith                       Ayn Rand

(Images courtesy of free-market.net.  Ayn Rand image by Chris Whitten.)

LINKS TO LIBERTARIAN ORGANIZATIONS

I am aware of one free market "think tank" in Ecuador and have provided its link below.  I have also included links to several free market organizations based in the United States which can offer further information on the theory and application of free markets around the world.  I am interested in corresponding with others regarding free enterprise in Ecuador.

The Instituto Ecuatoriano de Economía Política is Ecuador's free market "think tank", and offers downloadable Spanish-language publications on free markets in Ecuador

The Institute for Humane Studies of George Mason University offers support for undergraduate and graduate students interested in libertarian philosophy.  Scholarships and seminar information are included at this site.

The Cato Institute is the premiere libertarian public policy institute in the United States.

The Institute for Justice is a libertarian public-interest law firm, advocating for people affected by government violations of their right to earn an honest living.

Lastly, the following free-market search engine provides updated links on all issues relating to free markets.