Question about Capitalism in America

[PaDem]

Are there any nations that have a capitalist model that is less restrictive and unfettered than our version here in the United States? Or, are we the ultimate example of laissez faire market fundamentalism?

[Deja Q]

1. Excellent question, seoconded. K&R

[niallmac]

2. Not sure. If there is a more free wheeling capitalist model

in existence then its' corporations must be sucking the bone marrow out of its' citizens.

[rpannier]

3. Come to Korea

It's a combination Corporatist-Capitalist model with a Socialist model for social services. It's kind of interesting.
Almost everything in Korea is owned by about seven big Corporations: Lotte, LG, Hyundae, Samsung, SK, Dae-woo, etc. There are little stands everywhere on the sidewalk that sell everything -- and I mean everything: Food, Clothing, Animals, Phone Cards, Videos, Satellite Dishes and the subscription to the dish, etc.
The country also has a very extensive social network that benefits most everyone, but the biggest winners are the elderly. Korea has a national pension system, national health care (which is great), the government is busily installing electricity, roads, etc into the rural moungtain areas, old people get free tickets to use the subway, etc.
I've lived in Korea for about a decade now. I like it. The schools are of good quality, there's a tremendous amount of respect for the elderly, and it's a country that is starting to accept a more prominent role for women.

[TechBear_Seattle]

9. I assume you mean South Korea?

There hasn't been a single Korea for... what, 50 years?

[fasttense]

4. I think Ireland was an example of the ultimate laissez faire

market back right before the potato famine. In fact that capitalist market theory lead to the horrific starvation of millions of Irish poor while Ireland was the lead exporter of meat to England. Oh, those were the good old days :sarcasm:

[PaDem]

6. That potato famine is why I'm in this country today (eom)

****

[DianaForRussFeingold]

7. Is that Ireland,that had the potatoe famine?

:rofl: I think I'm here due to the cabbage famine. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,":patriot: reads the inscription on New York's Statue of Liberty. :kick:

[Kipling]

5. China, possibly Australia

[baldguy]

8. Somalia

[Squeech]

10. Asian tigers

Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan.

Maybe Chile under the Chicago boys?

But I don't think the American model is very pure capitalism. Not only are there humongous barriers to entry in certain markets, from commodities like sugar to the professions, but increasingly there's massive collusion between favored business entities and government agencies. So we do have (or claim to have) boundless faith in "the market" as the most efficient allocator of goods and services according to what "the people" really want, as evidenced by how they "vote" with their dollars, but the presumed outcome of that vote is as artificially skewed as the real vote in Ohio.

[sweetheart]

11. The eastern european flat-tax economies

are unfettered big time. The asian tigers, unless you are one of their race,
will be racist and not good for business.