Elon Musk has published on X the famous video in which Milton Friedmanthe father of monetarism who won the Nobel for the economy In the 1976explains the benefits of free market keeping one pencil in hand and telling the production process. Sharing the movie, extracted from a Television program of 1980appears as one controversy towards the duties announced by the US President, Donald Trumpwho just a few days ago announced that Musk will leave the “in a few monthsDoge”the body for the review of the US public spending.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 7, 2025
A message against duties? The meaning of the video of the pencil
Although the famous video of the pencil does not explicitly draw the policy of dutiesthe message of Milton Friedman It is a powerful defense of free market. In the episode, taken from the television series Free to choose of 1980the economist shows how a simple object as a pencil is the result of the spontaneous cooperation thousands of people around the world, without any central coordination.
Friedman underlines how the materials – the woodthe graphitethe eraserThe metal – come from different and distant countries, and are assembled thanks to a process made possible only by free movement of goods and skills. A system that, according to him, promotes not only economic efficiencybut also peace And harmony between peoples.
On several occasions, Friedman has expressed himself directly against duties and commercial restrictions. In particular, in the second episode of the series entitled The Tyranny of Controlopenly criticizes the barriers to international tradehighlighting the negative effects on producers and consumers.
In light of these positions, the gesture of Elon Musk – which relaunches this video in the context of the debate on the duties desired by Donald Trump – can be read as a clear position: an invitation to reflect on the importance of global economic freedom At a time when the idea of protectionism.
Trump: “Musk for zero duties with the EU? Did he treated us very badly”
When asked if he wanted zero rates with Europe as supported by Elon Musk, American president Donald Trump said: “Europe made a fortune with us. Europe treated us very badly “but” they are coming to the table. They want to speak, but we don’t talk if they don’t pay us a lot of money on an annual basis ».
Berlin: “Musk on zero duties? Ridiculous, it’s a sign of fear”
«The calculation that Donald Trump made on surplus and duties is wrong. From my point of view it is absurd. Even the philosophical basis of this calculation is incorrect. I say to the European partners, we are united ». The minister for German economy Robert Habeck on the sidelines of the EU trade council said so. “I read what Elon Musk said about the usual that in the future there are no duties between the USA and the EU,” I think it is a sign of weakness and perhaps of fear, if it has something to say, it should go to its president. It’s ridiculous, “he underlined.