Shleifer, Andrei2019-10-172009Shleifer, Andrei. 2009. “The Age of Milton Friedman.” Journal of Economic Literature 47 (1): 123–35. https://doi.org/10.1257/jel.47.1.123.0022-05151547-11012328-8175http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41555812Between 1980 and 2005, as the world embraced free market policies, living Standards rose sharply, while life, expectancy, educational attainment, and democracy improved and absolute poverty declined. Is this a coincidence? A collection of essays edited by Balcerowicz and Fischer argues that indeed reliance on free market forces is key to economic growth. A book by Stiglitz and others disagrees. I review and compare the two arguments.en-USJournal Article2019-10-1710.1257/jel.47.1.123