An Austrian who had moved to Monaco recently told me the following story. About four weeks after his arrival, a friend invited him to an event at the Monaco Yacht Club.
Once upon a time, there was a king who took a portion of people’s income as taxes and dictated how his subjects should live. Today, there is a democratically elected government that takes a large portion of people’s income as taxes and dictates how citizens should live.
The battle for political supremacy in the West has been decided. The so-called progressives have won; conservatives and libertarians have lost.
According to polls in Western countries, 80 per cent of citizens are dissatisfied with how they are governed, no matter who is in charge.
With the rapid globalisation that began after the collapse of the Eastern bloc, much of the world got richer quickly. China and India’s partial liberalisations lifted more people out of poverty than any event in human history.
Imagine a system in which a private company as a “government service provider” offers you protection of life, liberty, and property.
Let us analyze the market for governance: states exist, at least in part, because there is demand for them.
Doha DebatesFebruary 2026
Would you live in a futuristic, tech-run city? This debate explores whether tech-run cities like Praxis or Próspera truly offer a brighter future for all, or whether they are exclusive enclaves for the elite.
SpeakFreelyJanuary 2026
We talk about markets as if they stop at the supermarket door. Titus Gebel asks why. If competition disciplines companies, why shouldn’t it also discipline the city hall?
Disruptive HorizonsNovember 2025
I Visited Próspera, the World’s First Free City.
The BruneianFebruary 2025
The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) and Tipolis Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based developer of next-generation special economic zones, recently signed an agreement to assess the feasibility of a potential joint project in Brunei.
Expat MoneyJanuary 2024
The concept of Free Private Cities brings a refreshing change to traditional governance systems. Imagine cities where a private company, referred to as the ‘City Operator,’ handles administration and security. It’s like buying services from your favourite service provider but on an entirely different level.
Mises InstituteMarch 2019
Recently, we spoke with Mr. Gebel about some common objections to the idea of totally privatized cities existing side-by-side with states of today.
The profile at the Free Cities Foundation brings together many more articles, talks and podcast episodes.
View profile(external link, opens in a new window)