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... > contexts > population characteristics > socioeconomic factors > poverty > economics of poverty > laissez-faire
social science subjects > economics > economic concepts > political economy > laissez-faire
social science subjects > politics and international relations > political science > political economy > laissez-faire

Preferred term

laissez-faire  

Definition

  • LAISSEZ-FAIRE describes an economic doctrine that allows for a free-enterprise system to operate according to its own economic laws and opposes governmental regulation of commerce beyond the minimum necessary. The term translates from the French as “to let alone.” In the 18th century, laissez-faire enjoyed influence in many different areas of everyday life as early European economic thought overlapped with political, philosophical, and religious ideology. [Source: Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right: Volume 1: The Left and Volume 2: The Right; Laissez-Faire]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/laissez-faire

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