Decades ago, economist Bruce Yandle observed that local bans on alcoholic beverage sales enjoyed support from groups with antithetical values: moral crusaders (“Baptists”) and lawbreaking opportunists (“bootleggers”). Similar ironic political coalitions have since been noted in numerous pro-regulation campaigns past and present, including recent calls for regulating the digital economy in Italy.

Carlo Stagnaro is Co-Director of Istituto Bruno Leoni, Italy’s free market think tank.
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