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VANCOUVER, BC—The Fraser Institute is joining 64 organizations across North America in recognizing July 30 as a day honouring noted economist and Nobel laureate Dr. Milton Friedman for his work, theories, and contributions towards individual freedom.
“So much of the work done by the Fraser Institute can be traced back to the legacy of Milton Friedman,” said Dr. Brett J. Skinner, Fraser Institute president.
“Dr. Friedman was acutely aware that there are often unintended negative consequences from well-meaning—but incorrect—government policies. His evidence-based approach to economic inquiry is what inspires our work to measure the impact of government policies on the lives of Canadians.”
The Friedman Legacy for Freedom Day is being celebrated in provinces and states across North America. The initiative is sponsored by the Foundation for Educational Choice, the continuation of the Milton and Rose D. Friedman Foundation.
Dr. Friedman, who passed away in November 2006, is regarded as one of the world’s most influential promoters of economic freedom. He argued that the voluntary choices of individuals, not the dictates of government, should be the fundamental basis for public policy. His revolutionary work in economic theory earned him the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976.
Dr. Friedman and his wife Rose, also an economist, worked with Michael Walker, former Fraser Institute executive director, to develop the Economic Freedom of the World index, now an internationally recognized annual report that measures the extent of economic freedom in countries around the globe.
Dr. Friedman visited Canada on several occasions, and in 1982 provided advice to former B.C. Premier Bill Bennett on economic policies for the province.
Although Dr. Friedman is typically recognized for his economic contributions, he spent the last decade of his life fighting to bring educational freedom to all children. In 1996, he and his wife Rose founded the Foundation for Educational Choice to promote his vision for universal school choice—an idea he first proposed in 1955.
“In an era of bailouts and greater government economic intervention, citizens should remember Dr. Friedman’s work for its emphasis on individual freedom,” said Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Foundation for Educational Choice.
“We’re delighted to have the Fraser Institute join us in celebrating his legacy for freedom.”
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