The Changing Fortunes of Economic Liberalism

The first edition of this book traced the declining fortunes of economic liberalism in the hundred years up to the 1970s and its subsequent revival. David Henderson analysed the programmes of economic reform on which many governments embarked late in the twentieth century and the renewal of interest in liberal ideas in the economics profession. He pointed out, however, that liberalism has a ‘chronic weakness’ because it has so few ‘conscious adherents’.




In this new edition, Henderson explains to what extent his views have changed in the last three years. The ‘uneasy trend to economic liberalism’ has, in general, been maintained. But he now emphasises two increasing anti-liberal influences – the growth of non-governmental organisations hostile to the market system and the appeasement by companies of anti-business activists, as exemplified in the ‘Corporate Social Responsibility’ movement.