What I Believe EP 63 – James Forder on old fashioned liberalism, the finiteness of our existence, and free enterprise as a moral force
Jun 25, 2025
James Forder, academic economist and Balliol tutor known for work on central banks and European integration, describes himself as an old-fashioned liberal. He praises free enterprise as a moral force that fosters self-reliance. He explores prices and trade-offs over regulation, defends first-past-the-post and questions the euro, and reflects on how human finiteness gives life meaning.
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How A Teacher Pushed Forder Into Economics
- James Forder chose economics at school largely because he enjoyed an O‑level teacher and avoided biology and languages.
- He later combined economics with philosophy, reading Bertrand Russell as a teenager and pursuing both academically.
Free Enterprise As A Moral Force
- Free enterprise operates as a moral force by enabling self-reliance and personal pursuit of goals.
- James Forder says entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and market choices let individuals find satisfying lives beyond mere prosperity.
Use Prices Not Micromanagement For Policy
- Use price mechanisms rather than detailed regulation to achieve public policy goals with minimal harm.
- Forder argues raising prices (taxes/carbon pricing) lets those who truly need activities continue while reducing harmful behaviour overall.