The economies of restorative justice
Issued by SABC Education Digital Online: Economic freedom is a concept that has become part of the daily South Africa political discourse. What does it really mean? The annual Economic Freedom of the World Report posits that the cornerstones of economic freedom are: personal choice, voluntary exchange coordinated by markets, freedom to enter and compete in markets, and protection of persons and their property from aggression by others. According to this definition, economic freedom is present when individuals are permitted to choose for themselves and engage in voluntary transactions as long as they do not harm the person or property of others. While individuals have a right to their own time, talents, and resources, they do not have a right to those of others. Thus, individuals do not have a right to take things from others or demand that others provide things for them. The use of violence, theft, fraud, and physical invasions are not permissible in an economically free society, but otherwise, individuals are free to choose, trade, and cooperate with others, and compete as they see fit.