Neoliberalism favors market competition, privatization, deregulation, free trade and fiscal discipline as the main drivers of prosperity.
Key thinkers:David Ricardo, Adam Smith, Milton FriedmanTake the test and your match with Neoliberalism shows up here. It is worked out in your browser and never sent anywhere.
As a policy approach, neoliberalism became influential in the 1970s and 1980s, associated with governments such as those of Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom and Ronald Reagan in the United States, and with reform programs of international institutions. It stresses the price system, trade openness and limits on state spending and union power.
The word is mostly used by critics, and few politicians describe themselves as neoliberal, so what counts as “neoliberal” is often disputed.
The ideas that most people in this tradition would sign up to.
It grew from the thought of economists such as Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman, and spread after the economic crises of the 1970s.
Thinkers whose documented positions on the 12 axes align most closely with this ideology.
British political economist · 1772–1823
A British stockbroker and MP turned economist who set out the theory of comparative advantage and argued for free trade and against the Corn Laws.
“In 1821 he added a chapter on machinery saying he had become convinced that machines often injure labourers, and that workers’ fear of them is not mere prejudice.”
Scottish moral philosopher & economist · 1723–1790
A Scottish moral philosopher whose Wealth of Nations explained how specialisation and competition create wealth, and who criticised monopolies and trade restrictions.
“Wealth of Nations argues that many competing sects keep religion moderate, and opposes an established church’s monopoly.”
American economist · 1912–2006
An American economist of the Chicago school who defended free markets, floating exchange rates and school vouchers, and argued that economic freedom supports political freedom.
“Deregulation, market pricing, and school choice liberate human initiative.”
These are its strongest leanings, followed by all twelve axes. They describe the typical version of the tradition.
Leans very strongly toward Globalism
95% toward Globalism
Leans very strongly toward Democratic
88% toward Democratic
Leans very strongly toward Laissez-faire
88% toward Laissez-faire
Editorial estimates for comparison and discussion. Real people and parties in this tradition vary.
Countries whose estimated profile is most like this ideology. No country follows a single ideology, so read this as a comparison, not a label.
Every tradition has critics. These are the objections most often raised.
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The test scores you on all twelve axes and ranks every ideology by how well it matches you.
