Which world has free lunch?

Author: Gao Xijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-08-01
Features: Gao Xijun is an economist by profession, yet he has written numerous short essays and op-ed pieces outside of his field. Why? His answer is four words: spreading ideas. These are simple words—yet after reading Mr. Gao's Where in the World Can You Get a Free Lunch?, one realizes that it is precisely this philosophy that gives the essays and op-ed pieces a rich and profound background. Simply put, the importance of this background aligns with what the British economist John Maynard Keynes once said: "Ideas can change the course of history." The book offers an economic interpretation of everyday life, but it is infused with the author's personal values and a sense of social responsibility for intellectuals. For example, in the preface to the essay titled Where in the World Can You Get a Free Lunch?, the author reflects on rereading the piece written a decade and a half ago and notes that Taiwanese society still harbors the mindset of "free lunches." He sadly remarks that a teacher's persuasive power is indeed limited. May All in the World Be Readers and Shaking Off the Dust of the World further deepen this impression for the readers.