Can Familial Protectionism Save Families from Too Much Economic Freedom?

This paper addresses the contemporary political backlash among the political new Right against economic freedom. They assert that while economic freedom makes us materially rich, it erodes traditional family life by inducing women to work outside the home. Their claims that family life and structure has changed are true, but I argue but that economic freedom is not a zero-sum game and that families have more choices today, giving them greater autonomy. Rather than trying to protect the family with government stipends, which I call familial protectionism, economic freedom provides better choices for women inside and outside the home.