I have heard Dr Woods say that once people were freed to innovate, they did and we got the industrial revolution. This is proof free markets yield prosperity. My question is how, when and why did this happen? After centuries of oppression and feudal structure and people living in squalor, what triggered the freeing of people and markets?
I go into this question in some depth in the first Industrial Revolution lecture of the Western Civ since 1500 course. Are you asking about something not covered there?
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