Where in the world is there a "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 Can There Be 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 daily life, but it is infused with the author's personal values and a sense of social responsibility for intellectuals. For example, in the postscript to the essay titled Where Can There Be a "Free Lunch"?, the author reflects on rereading the piece written a decade earlier and notes that Taiwanese society still harbors the mindset of "free lunches." He sadly remarks: "A teacher's persuasive power is indeed limited." May All People Be Readers and Shaking Off the Dust of the Mundane further emphasize this point to the readers.