Sexual Freedom and Its Impact on Economic Growth and Prosperity

 The book "Sexual Freedom and Its Impact on Economic Growth and Prosperity" by Feler Bose argues that sexual freedom negatively affects economic growth. It indicates a relationship between high time preference and economic degradation, suggesting that societies rejecting traditional Christian sexual ethics exhibit this high time preference.

1. Main Thesis: Bose challenges the belief that sexual freedom is a product of economic prosperity, asserting instead that sexual and economic freedoms are inversely related.

2. Historical Context: The book references Joseph Unwin’s work, which connects strict sexual regulations to societal and economic growth, suggesting that cultures that maintained sexual restrictions thrived.

3. Empirical Evidence: Bose develops a matrix comparing sexual and economic freedoms, showing that increased sexual freedom correlates with economic instability, contrary to Stephen Horwitz’s conclusions on their complementary nature.

4. Counterfactuals: Two historical episodes—the HMS Bounty mutiny and the Soviet Revolution—are examined to illustrate how sexual license led to societal and economic decline.

5. Kinsey's Influence: Bose critiques Alfred Kinsey’s research, arguing it contributed to the sexualization of children and changed the perception of sexual morality, shifting it from public to private morality.

6. Legal Changes: The post-Kinsey era introduced a legal framework that prioritized consent over traditional moral standards, complicating the discourse around victimless crimes.

7. Sexual Freedom Index: The book details an index measuring sexual freedom in the U. S. from 1960 to 2010, revealing a significant increase tied to elite shifting preferences and Kinsey’s influence.

8. Time Preferences: Bose links sexual freedom with high time preference, suggesting that actions taken for immediate gratification lead to poor long-term consequences.

9. Cultural Perspectives: The influence of political ideologies on time preferences is discussed; leftist ideologies tend to correlate with increased sexual freedom, while rightist ideologies prioritize economic freedom.

10. Biblical Illustrations and Millennialism: The book uses biblical stories to illustrate the dangers of high time preferences, suggesting a connection between differing eschatological views (postmillennial vs. premillennial) and time orientation.

11. Psychological Insights: The motivations behind calls for sexual freedom among modern elites are examined as potential reflections of personal guilt and high time preference.

12. Conclusion: Bose emphasizes that a decline in Christian values leads to a rise in high time preference, jeopardizing both economic stability and societal progress.

Feler Bose's "Sexual Freedom and Its Impact on Economic Growth and Prosperity" provides a critique of the notion that sexual freedom enhances economic prosperity. By utilizing historical, empirical, and theological insights, the book argues that the rejection of traditional sexual ethics correlates with economic decline, advocating for a maintenance of Christian morals as essential for economic and societal growth.

https://mises.org/mises-wire/review-sexual-freedom-and-its-impact-economic-growth-and-prosperity