Google AI
The Times Australia

Times Media

why 'the marketplace for ideas' can fail – from an economist's perspective

  • Written by: Richard Holden, Professor of Economics, UNSW
why 'the marketplace for ideas' can fail – from an economist's perspectiveShutterstock

There is no shortage of repugnant and dangerous ideas in the world. An age old question is whether free speech will see good ideas win out over bad.

The proposition that good ideas eventually triumph in “the marketplace for ideas” dates at least to 1644, when John Milton wrote in his anti-censorship tract Areopagitica:

Let...

Read more: why 'the marketplace for ideas' can fail – from an economist's perspective

Business Times

Can Australia's Department Stores Survive the Online Shoppin…

For generations, a trip to Myer or David Jones was part of Australian life. Whether it was buying school uniforms, choosing...

Why the Evening Edition Is Returning

There was a time when Australians bought two newspapers a day. The morning paper delivered the overnight news. The evening...

Public Tenders: The Business Opportunity Many Australian SMEs Ove…

Winning new customers is one of the biggest challenges facing any business. While many companies compete for private sector...

Technology

SpaceX changed spaceflight. Now Chi…

When SpaceX first landed a Falcon 9 booster vertically on a floating drone ship, many experts desc...

Local News

Fremantle Ports to trial project to…

Fremantle Ports has partnered with Byssal and DevelopmentWA to trial an innovative nature-based pilo...

Culture

Healthy Eating: What Does a Science-Based Die…

After years of changing food trends—from low-fat to low-carbohydrate, detoxes and "superfoods"—it ...

Travel

Santorini: Is Greece's Most Famous Islan…

Whitewashed villages perched on volcanic cliffs. Blue-domed churches overlooking the Aegean Sea. S...

The Times Features

IKEA: More Than Furniture—A Complete Design System for …

For many Australians, IKEA is simply a place to buy affordable furniture. Look more closely, howe...

Healthy Eating: What Does a Science-Based Diet Actually…

After years of changing food trends—from low-fat to low-carbohydrate, detoxes and "superfoods"—it ...

Healthy Living: Can Exercise and Good Nutrition Help Yo…

Most people begin exercising or improving their diet with a specific goal in mind. It may be to lo...