Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Kody Jensen
“William Graham Sumner (1840–1910) was a professor, sociologist, clergyman, and advocate of laissez faire, the gold standard, and free trade. His book What Social Classes Owe to Each Other was influential in the thinking of Leonard Read, according to Mary Senholz’s biography of the FEE founder. Whilst Sumner was a supporter of free trade, in more recent times Donald Trump has built his political reputation on being its adversary. How would William Graham Sumner respond to claims made by Trump and his running mate JD Vance about free trade in the recent debates? Let’s go to his writings to find a potential answer.” (11/01/24)