Notable Quote

"Every state is a compulsory territorial monopolist of ultimate decision-making and taxation. Because it is a monopoly, it will inevitably produce its goods at higher cost and lower quality than would competing private providers, and it will use its compulsory revenue to further entrench and expand its power."

— Hoppe, Hans-Hermann event 2003

From The Myth of National Defense: Essays on the Theory and History of Security Production

Context: From Hoppe's introduction, applying the standard economic logic of monopoly to the state itself: a monopolist in defense faces no competitive pressure to improve quality or reduce costs.