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This open access book aims to show which factors have been decisive in the rise of successful countries. Never before have so many people been so well off. However, prosperity is not a law of nature; it has to be worked for. A liberal economy stands at the forefront of this success - not as a political system, but as a set of economic rules promoting competition, which in turn leads to innovation, research and enormous productivity.
Sustainable prosperity is built on a foundation of freedom, equal opportunity and a functioning government. This requires a stable democracy that cannot be defeated by an autocrat. Autocrats claim that "illiberalism" is more efficient, an assertion that justifies their own power. Although autocrats can efficiently guide the first steps out of poverty, once a certain level of prosperity has been achieved, people begin to demand a sense of well-being - freedom and codetermination. Only when this is possible will they feel comfortable, and progress will continue. Respect for human rights is crucial.
The rules of the free market do not lean to either the right or left politically. Liberalism and the welfare state are not mutually exclusive. The "conflict" concerns the amount of government intervention. Should there be more or less?
As a lawyer, entrepreneur, and board member with over 40 years of experience in this field of conflict, the author clearly describes the conditions necessary for a country to maintain its position at the top.
About the author
Born in 1946, the author, Max Meyer grew up in Bern, Switzerland and is a graduate of the University of Bern where he received his doctoral degree in law qualifying as an attorney-at-law and civil law notary. In 1991 he completed the Executive Program at Stanford University Business School in California, USA.
Max Meyer not only practiced law for several decades but also founded several companies in the areas of wealth management, property management and fiduciary management. He has served as a member of the board for several large companies, including large retailers, a bank and several SMEs. As a young man he was elected president of a large political party in Bern, but later made the conscious decision to retire from politics. He has published several works in the field of economics.
