Well sure, if you compare free markets with dysfunctional dictatorships, they come out pretty well. But when you start looking at the nuances of regulation with

Well sure, if you compare free markets with dysfunctional dictatorships, they come out pretty well. But when you start looking at the nuances of regulation within relatively free markets, the answers aren't so clear cut. Even if you omit the best examples of European social democracy, a lot of people would argue that quality of life for the average person in France, Germany or the UK is much better than in the US, due to such government meddling as social healthcare, labour laws and consumer protections.