Friedrich A. Hayek’s 1944 acclaimed Road to Serfdom (reproduced by the Institute for Economic Affairs online) supports social insurance for when markets work imperfectly, a long tradition in neoclassical economics now reflected in practice by the implicit or explicit social insurance linked to nearly all fiscal policy:
“Nor is there any reason why the state should not help to organize a comprehensive system of social insurance in providing for those common hazards of life against which few can make adequate provision (Hayek, p. 67)….If we are not to destroy individual freedom, competition must be left to function unobstructed (p. 69).”
Our bank insurance system is a part of social insurance for aggregate financial risk to competitive asset markets; efficient social insurance “completes markets” rather than distorting either competition or capital markets. Our monetary policy likewise provides social insurance based trust in exchange means that allows competitive goods markets to optimally allocate resources.
With respect to banking, also from the Institute for Economic Affairs, consider my 2009 “Commentary” found on their website at
International Deposit Insurance
and attached Gillman Economic Affairs of Institute for Economic Affairs 2009.
Max Gillman 